May 19, 2007

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois struggled on the mound in both games against Michigan State, dropping a doubleheader to the Spartans by scores of 7-3 and 16-4. In game one, MSU starter John Dwan found a rhythm and the Spartans swatted three homers, and the MSU offense put on a show in game two. On the afternoon, Illini DH Daniel Webb led the squad with a 4-for-7 effort, a double and two RBI. Catcher Lars Davis and first baseman Mike Rohde homered for Illinois in game one.

"We just have to put today behind us," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "It's just part of the game. We didn't play particularly well today and we control our own destiny tomorrow, so we have to bounce back."

The pair of losses leave the Illini in much the same place they started the day, needing a win to clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth. Michigan State is now just one-half game behind Illinois. The Illini will qualify for the tournament if they win or Ohio State loses on Sunday. If Illinois loses and OSU wins, the Buckeyes would get the No. 6 seed based on a higher winning percentage against teams above Illinois and OSU in the standings, the second tiebreaker since the squads split the season series.

In game one, MSU touched Illini starter Mike Stankiewicz for a run in the first on catcher Kyle Day's two-out home run just to the right of straightaway center for a 1-0 lead. Stankiewicz settled in from there, though, scattering three hits across the next three innings, including a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. But in the fifth, MSU third baseman Eric Roof, brother of Illini shortstop Shawn Roof, lifted a deep fly to center field. Kyle Hudson looked to have a bead on it, but it bounced off his glove as he crashed head-on into the wall. Roof motored around the bases and slid just past the tag by Lars Davis to make the Spartan lead 2-0. MSU added two more on a two-run single by Day for a 4-0 margin.

In the sixth, MSU got a lead-off homer from DH Sean Walker and Stankiewicz walked the next batter. He retired the next two hitters before loading the bases with a pair of singles and a hit batter. Day then drew a walk to force in a run before Stankiewicz induced a flyout as MSU extended its lead to 7-0.

Illinois fought back in the bottom half, though, as third baseman Brandon Wikoff laced a one-out single to left before catcher Lars Davis smashed the first pitch he saw to right-center for a two-run home run, his 11th of the season. First baseman Mike Rohde followed it up with a first-pitch homer of his own, this one going to dead-center, his fifth of the season, cutting the Michigan State lead to 7-3.

Ben Reeser gave up a hit to the first man he saw in the seventh before inducing a 4-6-3 double play and an inning-ending groundout to first base. But the Illini couldn't mount a rally in the bottom half, falling 7-3.

The Spartans kept rolling in the nightcap, tagging Illini starter Scott Shaw for three runs on two home runs in the first inning. But Illinois fought back with a three-spot in the bottom half thanks to a two-run double by Rohde and an RBI single up the middle by DH Daniel Webb, tying the game, 3-3.

MSU kept swinging, though, putting up three more in the second and six in the third inning, chasing Shaw with just one out in the third and extending its lead to 12-3. Illinois got a run back in the bottom half after Davis walked and Webb drove him in with a double, but the Spartans tacked on a run in the fifth on a lead-off homer by leftfielder Chris Roberts, pushing the margin to 13-4. Michigan State tacked on three more in the seventh for the final of 16-4.

Offensively on the day, Ryan Snowden went 3-for-8 with two doubles, while Rohde was 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, three RBI and two runs.

Up Next: The Illini finish the regular season with a 1 p.m. first pitch against Michigan State on Sunday. Neither team has named a starting pitcher for the match-up.