Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - Illinois (1-1) dropped a 14-7 loss to Notre Dame (1-1) despite leading or being tied for the first six-and-a-half innings thanks to an eight-run seventh inning by the Fighting Irish. Third baseman Dominic Altobelli went 2-for-4 with a career high-tying four RBIs - including a three-run triple - and second baseman Josh Parr collected his first career extra-base hit with a second-inning double.

Illinois grabbed an early 3-0 lead thanks in part to a pair of Irish miscues in the first. Left fielder Casey McMurray reached on an error by the third baseman then shortstop Brandon Wikoff singled on a high chopper into right field. Altobelli cleared the bases on a single to right field, which was misplayed by the Irish fielder, allowing both runners to cross the plate as Altobelli advanced to third on the two-base error. Catcher Aaron Johnson added the third Illini run with an RBI groundout.

Notre Dame responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs of its own, tying the game at 3. The inning featured four Irish singles and ended when Johnson thwarted Mick Doyle's stolen base attempt.

After recording five consecutive fly outs, starter Kevin Manson ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth but escaped unscathed. The Irish threatened with back-to-back singles to open the inning and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position with one out. The towering right-hander kept his cool and worked out of the jam, striking out the next hitter on a nasty curve and forcing a routine grounder to Parr to end the inning.

The Illini hitters exhibited patience in the top of the fifth as Irish starter Eric Maust struggled to find the plate. With two outs, Maust loaded the bases with three consecutive free passes to the top of the Illini order. Altobelli then smashed a bases-clearing triple over the center fielder's head, putting Illinois up 6-3.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame, reliever Billy Barrett entered the game and pitched out of the jam, allowing only a Doyle sacrifice fly and coaxing a groundout to end the inning with Illinois holding a 6-4 lead.

Illinois added a run in the sixth on a bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice by center fielder Joe Bonadonna, increasing its lead to 7-4, but Notre Dame got that run back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single.

That was when the floodgates opened for the Irish as Barrett gave up a two-run homer in the seventh and the next hitter reached on an error before Mike Sterk relieved Barrett. But Sterk gave up a walk, a two-run single and another base hit before being lifted in favor of Blake Fairchild. Fairchild allowed a bunt single but coaxed a pop-up to Wikoff and a sacrifice fly, appearing to be on his way out of the inning. But Jeremy Barnes, the Irish shortstop who opened the inning with a walk, ripped a three-run home run that put Notre Dame up 13-7. The Irish tacked on a run in the eighth for the final 14-7 margin.

In addition to Altobelli's strong night at the plate, Parr and first baseman Matt Dittman recorded the Illini's other two hits, and Wikoff and McMurray each scored two runs.

The Orange and Blue finish up their appearance in the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge Sunday against West Virginia at noon (CT) at the Raymond A. Naimoli Complex. The Mountaineers are 1-1 after downing Indiana, 14-4, on Friday and dropping a 5-4 decision to Minnesota on Saturday.