May 6, 2009

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No. 25 Illinois scored runs in three of the first four innings but an error in the 10th inning extended the inning and allowed Evansville to plate the winning run in a 4-3 loss for the Illini on Wednesday at Illinois Field. Third baseman Dominic Altobelli (Oak Forest, Ill.) ran his hitting streak to 15 games and extended his streak of multiple-hit games to 12 as the Illini fall to 31-14 on the season.

After Evansville pushed across a run in the first after an infield hit, a steal and a hit off starter Ben Reeser's (Bloomington, Ill.) glove that trickled into left field, the Illini responded with a run in the bottom half. Left fielder Casey McMurray (Willow Springs, Ill.) hustled around to third when the Purple Aces' right fielder dove for his sinking liner and missed, resulting in a one-out triple. He came home on an RBI groundout by shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) to tie the game at 1.

Illinois added a run in the second when right fielder Willie Argo (Davenport, Iowa) knocked a one-out single to right-center and scored on catcher Adam Davis' (Bloomingdale, Ill.) triple to right-center for a 2-1 lead. First baseman Matt Dittman (Libertyville, Ill.) added a run in the fourth when he blasted a 1-1 pitch to the opposite field for a leadoff homer and a 3-1 advantage.

Reliever Mike Stankiewicz (Des Plaines, Ill.) pitched four strong innings, allowing only one run on one hit while not giving up a walk and striking out one in 42 pitches. Wes Braun (Deerfield, Ill.) worked a scoreless sixth, giving up only one hit. The Aces got a run in the eighth after a pair of two-out walks and a ground-rule double, but John Anderson (Mount Vernon, Ill.) relieved Corey Kimes (Ottawa, Ill.) and got a strikeout to end the frame with the score tied at 3.

In the eighth, Argo looked to have blasted a leadoff homer, but it was corralled by left fielder Greg Wallace at the top of the wall in left-center. The Illini threatened in the ninth when center fielder Joe Bonadonna (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) drew a leadoff walk and McMurray appeared to be hit in the back with the pitcher's throw on his sacrifice bunt attempt. But McMurray was called out for interference and Bonadonna returned to first. He stole second and moved to third when Wikoff flied to deep center field, but Altobelli flied out to end the inning.

Evansville pushed across the deciding run in the top of the 10th. After a one-out walk, Anderson induced a grounder to Wikoff on which he nearly turned a double play but the lead runner narrowly beat him to the base at second. But Altobelli's throw to first on a ground ball was low and Dittman was unable to scoop it, allowing the runner to score from second for a 4-3 lead. The Illini couldn't mount a late rally and fell by that score.

Altobelli extended his streak of multiple-hit games to 12 with a 3-for-5 performance and Davis was 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

Up Next: No. 25 Illinois hosts No. 27 Ohio State in a weekend series between two of the top three teams in the Big Ten standings, beginning Friday at 6:05 p.m. with the Bleacher Bum Barbecue. All fans receive free admission and the first 1,000 through the gates - which open at 5 p.m. - receive free food. Mini-bats from First Federal also will be given away and drawings will be held for tickets to Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals games. The night will be capped by fireworks following the final out.