May 12, 2007

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Redshirt-sophomore Mike Stankiewicz tossed his second complete-game shutout of the year in game one and Illinois used five consecutive singles to stage a four-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning of game two, sweeping a doubleheader from Indiana by the scores of 3-0 and 5-2. It is the second-straight weekend Illinois has swept the Saturday doubleheader and third time this season.

Sweeping the twinbill keeps the Illini in control of their Big Ten Tournament destiny, currently sitting in fifth place with the top six teams reaching the conference tournament. The Illini hold a 1 ½-game lead on Michigan State and a 2 ½-game lead over Purdue with five games remaining. Meanwhile, Illinois sits just 2 ½ games back of third-place Penn State.

"If we keep winning, nobody can catch us (for sixth place)," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Every win's important from here on out. I think we're learning to win and I think we're very composed as a team right now."

In the nightcap, Indiana put up single runs in the second and third innings, but the Illini got a run in the bottom of the third. Leftfielder Joe Bonadonna doubled to right-center, stole third and scored on rightfielder Ryan Snowden's single up the middle, making the score 2-1 in the Hoosiers' favor.

After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Illinois starter Scott Shaw retired the Hoosiers in the sixth with just four pitches, leading up to the Illini's big inning at the plate. With two down, catcher Lars Davis started the rally with a single up the middle. First baseman Mike Rohde followed with another single through the middle and DH Daniel Webb extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 with a base hit through the right side that drove home Davis from second. Shortstop Shawn Roof knocked a single back through the box, driving in Rohde, and second baseman hit behind the runner with a base hit through the right side, plating Webb. Roof then scored on a wild pitch, giving Illinois a 5-2 lead.

"Their pitcher did a great job, and then there were two outs and nobody on and all of a sudden we hit a couple balls hard up the middle and started getting pitches up in the zone that we could handle," Hartleb said. "We had six hits in a row and found a way to score, and our guys found a way to win again, so I thought that was impressive."

Closer Jake Toohey earned his Big Ten-leading sixth save of the year after two hits and an error that loaded the bases. Hastings hauled in a foul pop-up down the right-field line to end the game, though. Shaw earned the win after six efficient innings, giving up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks. He used just 65 pitches, throwing 44 strikes (68 percent).

In game one, Illinois touched Hoosier starter Tyler Tufts for three runs early - one in the first and two in the second. In the first, the Illini scored when third baseman Brandon Wikoff singled, Davis doubled to left-center and Rohde drove in Wikoff with a base hit. One inning later, Roof led off with a single and stole second. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a dropped third strike on rightfielder Nick Stockwell that went all the way to the backstop. Stockwell moved to second on a balk and scored on centerfielder Kyle Hudson's single up the middle, giving Illinois a 3-0 lead.

That was all Stankiewicz needed, throwing a gem by scattering six hits and a walk while tallying a strikeout. Stankiewicz needed just 80 pitches, throwing 58 for strikes (73 percent) for his third complete game and second shutout of the year.

"Mike did a great job of getting ahead of hitters," Hartleb said. "They really didn't hit a ball hard off of him all day and he jammed a lot of hitters. I thought he was very dominant and very composed the entire day."

Offensively, Bonadonna went 3-for-3 with a run in game two. Davis was 3-for-5 with a double and a run, while Rohde and Webb extended their career-best hitting streaks to 17 and 16 games, respectively.

Up Next: Illinois and Indiana wrap up the weekend series on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Freshman Kevin Manson will start for the Illini, while Indiana will send junior Chris McCombs to the hill.