May 11, 2007

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois improved to 6-1 in Big Ten series openers thanks to a solid performance by starter Tanner Roark and an electrifying 1 1/3 innings by closer Jake Toohey, who stranded two runners in scoring position while striking out the final two hitters of the game for a 6-5 Illini victory. Designated hitter Daniel Webb went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run, extending his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. Shawn Roof broke the single-season stolen base record by swiping his 36th base of the year in the sixth inning.

"Shawn is a special person out there because his (base-stealing) isn't all on natural ability," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "A lot of his is just on instincts and desire. He has no fear out there and it's a special night for him. I'm proud of what he's done."

Indiana (17-30 overall, 6-18 in the Big Ten) started off with three runs in the top of the first, taking advantage of three Illinois errors, a walk and a base hit. The Illini (25-22, 11-12) got a run back in the bottom half, though, as rightfielder Ryan Snowden led off with a single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on catcher Lars Davis' double to left-center, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

"If you look at Tanner's first inning, it was a good inning for him, we just didn't play any defense at all," Hartleb said. "The thing with Tanner is he didn't let any of that stuff bother him. After we made the three errors in that inning, he just kept throwing strikes, staying down in the zone and he kept his composure."

Illinois closed the gap again in the third when centerfielder Kyle Hudson singled through the left side and moved to second on a groundout. He then scored on third baseman Brandon Wikoff's single off the first baseman's glove, coming around from second on the infield hit that was corralled by the second baseman and making the score 3-2.

The Hoosiers added a run in the fifth on a double and a single, making the lead 4-2, but the Illini took their first lead of the game after a four-run sixth inning. Davis reached on an error by the shortstop and went to third on first baseman Mike Rohde's 19th double of the season. DH Daniel Webb then doubled to right-center, bringing home both runners and tying the game, 4-4. Roof singled home Webb and advanced to second on the throw home. Roof then stole third, breaking Todd Schmitke's 26-year-old single-season stolen base record with his 36th of the year. Roof came home on second baseman Ryan Hastings' sacrifice fly to center, giving Illinois a 6-4 lead.

Indiana got a run back in the seventh on four hits and an error, but Roark induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to escape a potentially big inning. Roark also picked off the lead runner at second with runners at first and second with no outs, the runner that would've been the tying run as the game played out.

In the eighth, Roark walked the lead-off hitter, first baseman Brad Henke, who was pinch-run for by Trevor McConnell. McConnell moved to second on a sacrifice bunt but was not able to advance on a medium-depth flyout down the right-field line. Closer Jake Toohey then relieved Roark and stranded McConnell in scoring position by inducing a sharply-hit ground ball that Rohde gloved nicely at first for the unassisted putout.

In the ninth, the lead-off man, second baseman Keith Haas, reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by Wikoff, his third miscue of the night. Toohey bore down, though, getting the first out on a grounder that moved Haas to third before striking out the final two hitters to end the game. He recorded his fifth save of the year, tying him for the Big Ten lead in conference action. In all, he threw 1 1/3 perfect innings, striking out two and using just 18 pitches, 12 strikes.

"Jake was throwing well tonight, mixing his pitches and staying down in the zone," Hartleb said. "His composure was outstanding. He's a guy you want out there in those situations."

Offensively, Roof also had two hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, in addition to his stolen base. Rohde was 2-for-4 with a double and a run, setting a new career best by extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Up Next: Illinois and Indiana square off in a doubleheader at 3:05 p.m. Saturday. Mike Stankiewicz will take the hill in game one for Illinois, while Scott Shaw will start the nightcap.