Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

EDINBURG, Texas - Illinois (1-1) once again showed fortitude in late-game situations, tying the game in the eighth inning, but Texas State (2-0) hit a walk-off single in the ninth to beat the Illini, 2-1, in the first game of the second day at the Al Ogletree Classic. Starter Mike Stankiewicz and reliever Nick Chmielewski scattered nine hits and allowed only one earned run on the day, and catcher Aaron Johnson had his first three-hit day as an Illini, going 3-for-4.

"I thought our pitchers did very well today," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "A couple of times we were in some tough situations, and Stankiewicz and Chmielewski worked their way out. If you give up fewer than four runs, you ought to win the game."

After giving up a leadoff double to start the game, Stankiewicz got in a groove and retired nine of the next 10 Bobcat hitters. But Texas State took an early 1-0 lead after a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fourth.

Bobcat pitcher Steven Siers struggled to find the strike zone in the top of the seventh inning, but the Illini failed to capitalize. Illinois catcher Aaron Johnson led off the frame with a single to left, followed by a Mike Giller walk on four straight pitches. One out later, center fielder Kyle Hudson drew another four-pitch walk to load the bases and force a Bobcats pitching change. Right-hander Kane Hollbrooks came on in relief and retired the next two Illini hitters to end the threat.

Illinois evened the score at one apiece in the top of the eighth thanks to third baseman John Schlichter. First baseman Ryan Hastings walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch to start the inning. Schlichter doubled off the wall in right center, plating Hastings, but the junior transfer got thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.

Chmielewski pitched solid seventh and eighth innings, keeping things tied as he took the mound for the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Bobcat pinch-hitter Spenser Dennis hit a sharp grounder to third that Schlichter knocked down, but the throw pulled Hastings off the bag. After Dennis moved to second on a wild pitch, Adam Witek hit a walk-off single to right center, plating Dennis for the 2-1 final score.

While the Orange and Blue notched more hits than in their season opening win, they were mostly unable to bunch those hits together as they left eight men on base.

"I was disappointed with the offense today," Hartleb said. "We had numerous opportunities to move runners with no outs, but we didn't do it and that was the difference in the game. If we move runners at all today, we're 2-0."

Like Shaw on Friday, Stankiewicz showed improvement over the 2007 season with his six-inning, four-strikeout performance in which he allowed just one run. And Chmielewski, the No. 8 recruit in the state of Illinois last year, did not disappoint in his first collegiate outing, only allowing an unearned run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings of relief work.

Hudson showed his patience at the plate once again today as picked up two more walks, giving him four for the season, and Johnson collected the first three-hit day by an Illini this year with his 3-for-4 performance.

Up Next: The Illini will face the Lamar Cardinals at 9 a.m. on Sunday at Edinburg Stadium to wrap-up the Al Ogletree Classic.