March 1, 2008

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Illinois grabbed a one-run lead with a three-run eighth inning, Stephen F. Austin scored three in the top of the ninth to take an 8-6 lead and Illinois had the tying run thrown out at the plate in its 8-7 loss at the QTI Baylor Classic at Baylor Ballpark Saturday afternoon. Brandon Wikoff was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Kyle Hudson went 3-for-5 with two runs as the Illini dropped to 2-3 on the season.

"We did a good job jumping on the board early, but then I thought we relaxed offensively and didn't have that same intensity through the middle innings," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "We just have to stop giving up big innings. We had all the momentum when we regained the lead, but we let it get away from us."

Illinois notched its first run in the first inning this season when leftfielder Casey McMurray walked and moved to second on a groundout. First baseman Ryan Hastings knocked him in with a base hit up the middle, giving the Illini a 1-0 lead.

The Orange and Blue added two more in the second when right-fielder Nick Stockwell drew a one-out walk, followed by consecutive infield hits by second baseman Joe Bonadonna and centerfielder Kyle Hudson to load the bases. After Stockwell was thrown out at home on McMurray's grounder, shortstop Brandon Wikoff poked a double down the left-field line, scoring Bonadonna and Hudson for a 3-0 lead.

But SFA pulled ahead with a four-run fifth inning in which the Lumberjacks touched Illini starter Mike Stankiewicz for two singles, a two-run homer, a double and scored a run on a throwing error by Illinois third baseman John Schlichter in taking a 4-3 lead.

SFA added another in the eighth on a solo homer, pushing ahead 5-3. But Illinois responded in the bottom of the frame with a three-run outburst on five hits. With one out, Stockwell singled to left-center and, after a flyout, Hudson singled through the right side to move Stockwell to third. McMurray then dumped a single into right field in front of a diving Lumberjack, and since Hudson was running on the play, two runs scored to tie the game. McMurray then stole second and scored on Wikoff's second hit of the day, a base knock through the right side, to give Illinois a 6-5 lead.

But after reliever Nick Chmielewski struck out the first hitter of the ninth inning, SFA centerfielder Zach Gardner doubled to right-center, DH Jeff Brewer walked and catcher Matt Whatley blasted a first-pitch homer to right, giving the 'Jacks an 8-6 lead.

The Illini came battling back in the ninth, though, as DH Daniel Webb singled through the right side and was replaced by pinch-runner Pete Cappetta. Schlichter walked and was replaced by Dominic Altobelli, and the pair moved up a base on Stockwell's sacrifice bunt. One out later, Hudson ripped a first-pitch single to right, scoring Cappetta. Altobelli rounded third and came home, where he was met by the throw from right-fielder Kai Kirby. Whatley appeared to block the plate but miss the tag, but he applied a tag before Altobelli was able to reach back for the plate, ending the game, 8-7.

Stankiewicz turned in a solid outing, going a career-long 7 2/3 innings, allowing five runs - four earned - on 10 hits while striking out four and not giving up a walk. He threw 98 pitches, 70 for strikes (71 percent).

Offensively for the Illini, Hastings went 2-for-4 with an RBI and McMurray was 1-for-2 with two RBI, two runs and two walks, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances.

Up Next: The Illini finish their stay in Waco with an 11 a.m. first pitch against Illinois-Chicago on Sunday.