Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Illinois (1-0) used a five-run sixth inning and solid pitching to top Iowa (0-1), 8-3, in its season opener at the Big East/Big Ten Challenge at Jack Russell Stadium. Sophomore Phil Haig and senior Aaron Martin combined to not allow an earned run while striking out nine and scattering five hits. Haig (1-0) picked up his third career victory and Martin notched his second career save as Illinois won its second-straight season opener and improved to 95-34-1 all-time to start the season.

"It's nice to start off the season with a win," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "Our guys went out and played with composure and very good energy. Phil Haig had a very good outing. He was consistently down in the zone, got ahead in the count a lot and worked out of jams well."

Illinois jumped out to a 1-0 first-inning lead when third baseman Dominic Altobelli singled home left fielder Casey McMurray, who singled and got to third after a wild pitch and stolen base.

But Iowa scored runs in the second and fifth to take a 2-1 lead into the sixth. That was when the Illini bats heated up, rallying to score five runs on three hits and three Hawkeye errors. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff reached on an error and Altobelli singled. After a passed ball moved the runners into scoring position, first baseman Mike Giller knotted the game at 2 on an error by the shortstop, plating Wikoff and forcing Hawkeye starter Mike Jacobs out of the game.

The new Hawkeye pitcher, Tony Manville, hit the first batter he faced, catcher Aaron Johnson, to load the bases. An RBI groundout by designated hitter Chris Montgomery put the Illini ahead, 3-2. Illinois never looked back, tacking on three more runs in the inning on another error by the Hawkeye shortstop and back-to-back RBI singles by second baseman Josh Parr and center fielder Joe Bonadonna.

"We swung the bats well for the first time out," Hartleb said. "The middle and top of our lineup did a very good job and the bottom of our lineup was also productive, so I was pleased with the overall outing."

Iowa threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but were stymied by the veteran Martin. The Illini reliever worked out of a one-out bases-loaded jam by striking out the final two Hawkeye hitters.

"Aaron did a good job tonight," Hartleb said. "He found a way to work out of jams and was productive in his first outing on the mound."

The Illini added insurance runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to put the game out of reach. Wikoff blasted a solo shot over the right field wall in the seventh - his third career homer - while right fielder Craig Lutes drove in the final Illini run, plating Johnson with an RBI double in the eighth.

Illinois finished the day with 11 hits and three stolen bases, picking up where it left off in 2008 after finishing last year with a .335 average and 101 steals.

After one day of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge, the Big Ten holds a 5-3 advantage. Illinois returns to action Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT as it faces Notre Dame at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla. The Fighting Irish dropped a 2-0 decision to Ohio State on Friday evening. The Illini will send junior Kevin Manson to the hill while Notre Dame's Eric Maust will toe the rubber.