March 24, 2008

Box Score |  2008 Baseball Home Opener 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini broke in the new FieldTurf at Illinois Field with a 15-5 thumping of Judson University Monday. Illinois scored in six of its eight times to the plate and was led by right fielder Craig Lutes' 3-for-4 outing with a home run, four RBIs and three runs. Center fielder Kyle Hudson raised his batting average to .490 with a 3-for-5 effort, two RBIs and two runs.

"Our hitters all did a good job of being patient against a team we didn't know a lot about coming into the game," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Our lineup has threats from top to bottom and we showed that today. And we loved the new turf; it was great to be out there on it."

After Judson put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the first, Illini starter Mike Stankiewicz worked out of the jam without giving up a run thanks to two sharp throws home on grounders by first baseman Ryan Hastings. Stankiewicz then struck out the final hitter of the inning to retire the side.

Illinois picked up momentum from the escape work, scoring twice in the bottom half. Hudson singled to lead off then stole second and third. Two outs later, third baseman Dominic Altobelli singled to drive him in and stole second. Hastings then singled home Altobelli for a 2-0 lead.

After holding the Eagles scoreless in the second, the Illini scored two more in the second. With one out, Lutes singled and second baseman Joe Bonadonna drove him in with a triple to center. Hudson brought home Bonadonna with a sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead. Judson scored one in the third, but Illnois put three on the board in the bottom half. Hastings beat out an infield hit and stole second with one out, then DH Daniel Webb walked and catcher Chris Montgomery singled to load the bases. Lutes brought home two runs with a base hit and Bonadonna scored Montgomery with a single, pushing the lead to 7-1.

In the fourth, shortstop Brandon Wikoff singled to lead off and Altobelli doubled to put runners at second and third. Hastings brought home Wikoff with a sacrifice fly, then Webb's sacrifice fly brought in Altobelli. Montgomery walked and Lutes blasted his second home run of the season to put Illinois ahead 11-1.

The Illini added two runs in the sixth after catcher Aaron Johnson was hit by a pitch, Lutes reached on a three-base error by the center fielder and Bonadonna drove him in with a groundout. Illinois tacked on two more in the eighth, highlighted by RBI singles by Hudson and freshman Pete Cappetta, who came in to play shortstop in the sixth, pushing the margin to 15-2. Judson scored three in the top of the ninth to reach the final score of 15-5.

Hastings was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a run and a steal, Bonadonna was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a triple, and Altobelli went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs. Nick Stockwell was 2-for-3 after entering in the sixth, and redshirt-freshman Lee Zerrusen tossed two scoreless innings of relief.

Up Next: Illinois travels to Terre Haute, Ind., on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. start against Indiana State. Aaron Martin will take the mound for the Illini.