May 23, 2008

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Illinois scored six runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined, but Indiana scored five in the bottom of the eighth for a 14-7 victory in an elimination game of the Big Ten Tournament at the Wilpon Basebal Complex, bringing the Illini's season to a close. First baseman Ryan Hastings wrapped up one of the finest careers in Illinois history by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI, and right fielder capped an impressive two-year run with a 2-for-5 day. Hastings finishes he career with an even 250 hits, which ranks eighth in the Illini record book.

"Ryan and Daniel both did a great job in their last games as collegiate players," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "I'm proud of all of the seniors, but we just didn't pitch well today. We fell behind, we battled back and we had them to within two runs, then we fell apart in the bottom of the eighth on the mound."

Indiana jumped on top early, scoring three runs off Illini starter Phil Haig on a hit batter, a single, a double and a groundout to take a 3-0 lead after an inning. The Hoosiers tacked onto its lead in the third when catcher Josh Phegley led off with a first-pitch home run to make the lead 4-0.

Illinois started to come back in the fourth when Webb knocked a two-out single up the middle and Hastings smashed a double to the base of the wall in right-center, driving in Webb to cut the margin to 4-1.

But the Hoosiers mounted a two-out rally in the fourth when center fielder Andrew Means laced a double down the left-field line and left fielder Chris Hervey was hit by a pitch. Phegley then knocked his second-straight home run, this time over the 26-foot-tall brick wall in left field, making the score 7-1. Indiana added a run in the fifth with right fielder Evan Crawford ripped his first homer of the season to left field, a solo shot that increased the lead to 8-1.

Indiana tacked on another tally in the sixth when Hervey singled through the left side then moved to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch before coming home on a sacrifice fly by Phegley, his sixth RBI of the day, to make the score 9-1.

Illinois fought back with three runs in the seventh when Hastings drew a leadoff walk and third baseman John Schlichter was hit by a pitch. DH Dominic Altobelli dropped in a bloop base hit behind second base to load the bases and left fielder Casey McMurray looped a double down the right-field line to drive in two. Center fielder Kyle Hudson reloaded the bases with a walk and, one out later, shortstop Brandon Wikoff drove in a run with a walk to make the score 9-4. But Hoosier starter Tyler Tufts regained form, striking out catcher Aaron Johnson and getting Webb to fly out to avoid a big inning.

After reliever Billy Barrett set the Hoosiers down in order in the seventh, the Illini continued their comeback charge in the eighth. Hastings led off with a single and Schlichter was hit by a pitch for the second-straight plate appearance. Altobelli followed with an RBI single to left-center and McMurray singled to load the bases. Hudson drove in a run and the other two runners each advanced a base on a sacrifice fly. Altobelli later scored on a fielding error by Hoosier shortstop Tyler Cox with two outs, cutting the Indiana lead to 9-7.

But Indiana struck back with five runs in the bottom of the eighth on five hits, a fielding error and a sacrifice fly to extend its lead to the final score of 14-7.

In addition to Hastings' and Webb's offensive highlights, Altobelli was 3-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base, and McMurray went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. However, the only other Illini hit was by Hudson, who finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, dipping just below .400 to finish the season at .398 and also remain tied with Shawn Roof for the school single-season stolen base record at 40.