April 12, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois gave up a pair of runs in the first inning of game one and that seemed to set the tone for the day as No. 23 Michigan took both ends of Saturday's doubleheader at Illinois Field, winning 14-4 in game one and 14-6 in game two on a cold, wet, blustery day. Illini shortstop Brandon Wikoff went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs on the afternoon, while DH Daniel Webb was 3-for-6.

The Wolverines (21-8 overall, 10-1 in the Big Ten) struck first in game one with a single and a home run in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead. The Illini (18-11, 6-5) responded in the bottom half when center fielder Kyle Hudson reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and scooted all the way to third base when the throw went down the right-field line. Second baseman Joe Bonadonna knocked him in with a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Michigan added a run in the third on a solo homer, but the Illini fought back once again with a tally in the bottom half. Hudson drew a one-out walk and stole second, then moved to third on Bonadonna's flyout. Wikoff drove him in with a base hit, making the score 3-2 in Michigan's favor. But the Wolverines scored nine unanswered runs before Illinois scored twice in the sixth when first baseman Ryan Hastings blasted a two-run home run to right-center. Michigan added two more in the top of the seventh to make the final score 14-4.

In the nightcap, Michigan scored twice in the first inning after two walks and a two-out double. Illinois continued to fight back, tying the game with two runs of its own in the bottom half. With one out, Bonadonna laced a base hit and Wikoff walked. The pair moved up a base on a double steal and Bonadonna scored on a balk by Wolverine starter Mike Wilson. Hastings drove home Wikoff with a single to tie the game at 2.

Michigan scored two more in the second, but the Illini got a run back in the bottom half. Left fielder Casey McMurray led off with a single and moved to second on Hudson's bunt single. The two moved up a station on a wild pitch and Bonadonna walked to load the bases. Wikoff's sacrifice fly scored McMurray, but third baseman John Schlichter grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Illini trailing, 4-3.

After a scoreless third inning, the Wolverines started to pull away with a four-run fourth, putting together five hits and chasing Illini starter Scott Shaw before he retired a batter in the inning. Reliever Billy Barrett eventually worked out of the inning, but not before Michigan took an 8-3 lead. Illinois tallied one in the bottom half when Hudson drew a lead-off walk and stole second, then moved to third on Bonadonna's single and came home on Wikoff's groundout, cutting the margin to 8-4.

But Michigan scored single runs in the fifth and sixth for a 10-4 lead before the Illini added a run in the sixth. With one out, Wikoff laced a single to right and Schlichter was hit by a pitch. Hastings drove home Wikoff with a single, cutting the deficit to 10-5. But the Wolverines added four in the top of the seventh to pull ahead, 14-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mike Giller notched his third pinch hit of the season when he ripped a double to left-center. He came around to score on right fielder Nick Stockwell's double, but that was all the Illini could muster as they dropped a 14-6 loss.

Offensively, Hastings was 3-for-7 with a homer and four RBIs. Hudson was 2-for-6 with three runs and two stolen bases, giving him 25 for the season.

Up Next: The Fighting Illini and Michigan wrap up the series Sunday with a single game beginning at 1:05 p.m. Aaron Martin will take the ball for the Illini while the Wolverines will send Travis Smith to the hill.