April 6, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Illinois split a pair of seven-inning games with Indiana at Sembower Field Sunday, dropping an 8-1 decision in game one and fighting back to win, 7-4, in the nightcap. Scott Shaw tossed his second complete game in as many starts in game two, while Brandon Wikoff and Dominic Altobelli each notched three hits in the nightcap.

"We were very resilient once again," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Early on, Shaw was very aggressive, then he had a couple of innings where he had to work out of trouble, but he gave us a good start today. And we showed offensively that we're not only very solid from the top of the lineup to the bottom, but also that guys can come off the bench and produce."

Illinois (16-8 overall, 5-2 in the Big Ten) jumped ahead early in the second game, with center fielder Kyle Hudson drawing a lead-off walk and stealing second in the first inning. He was caught stealing at third and second baseman Joe Bonadonna struck out, but Wikoff walked and Altobelli ripped a double to the wall in left to score Wikoff for a 1-0 lead.

In the second, catcher Aaron Johnson singled through the left side and right fielder Craig Lutes beat out a bunt single. The next two hitters made outs, but Bonadonna singled up the middle to score Johnson. Wikoff followed with a base hit to right that drove in Lutes for a 3-0 Illini advantage.

Indiana (14-11, 3-4) tied the game with a run in the third and two more in the fourth, but the Fighting Illini scored four or more runs in an inning for the eighth time this season when they pushed four across in the fifth. Wikoff led off with a single and Altobelli beat out a bunt single, but Wikoff was put out at third on a failed sacrifice attempt by first baseman Ryan Hastings. DH Daniel Webb grounded out to move the runners to second and third, then Bonadonna scored and Hastings moved to third on a wild pitch. After a pitching change, Johnson Lutes both walked to load the bases for left fielder Casey McMurray, who laced a single up the middle to drive home Hastings and Johnson. Hudson followed with a base hit to right that scored Lutes to give the Illini a 7-3 lead.

Shaw gave up a one-out double and a walk in the fifth but got out of the inning without allowing a run, then walked the lead-off hitter in the sixth but recorded three consecutive flyouts to retire the Hoosiers. In the seventh, Indiana catcher Josh Phegley ripped a solo homer to left-center with two outs, but Shaw induced a groundout to Bonadonna to end the game.

In game one, Indiana jumped on Illini starter Mike Stankiewicz early, scoring on a steal of home plate and a solo homer in the first, and tacking on another solo shot in the second for a 3-0 lead. Illinois got on the board in the third when Hudson lined a one-out double down the left-field line and stole third. Joe Bonadonna was hit by a pitch and stole second, then Hudson came home on shortstop Brandon Wikoff's groundout, cutting the margin to 3-1.

But the Hoosiers added two runs in the fifth on a double, two walks and a single, chasing Stankiewicz and making their lead 5-1. Illinois was unable to mount a late-inning rally and dropped the first game by that score.

For the day, Altobelli was 3-for-7 with two doubles and an RBI while Wikoff went 3-for-6 with two RBI. Hudson was 2-for-6 with a double, an RBI, a run and three steals, giving him 20 for the season. Shaw tossed his second complete game in as many starts and the fourth in his career. McMurray drove in two in the second game, while Lutes and Johnson each scored twice in game two.

Up Next: The same two teams finish the series with a 2 p.m. (CT) start on Monday, as Illinois will send junior Aaron Martin to the hill and Indiana will give the ball to sophomore Eric Arnett. The Illini will then travel to Peoria on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. start at Bradley.