Box Score March 30, 2010
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois fought back with eight unanswered runs in the final four innings, but a 10-run fourth inning by Illinois State was too much for the Illini to overcome as the Redbirds held on for a 13-8 win in front of 906 fans at Duffy Bass Field. First baseman Craig Lutes was 2-for-5 and the Illini bullpen only allowed one base-runner after the fourth inning, but a 13-0 deficit after four frames was too steep of a hill to climb as Illinois falls to 8-9 on the season.
The Illini dodged a bullet in the bottom of the first inning as starter Lee Zerrusen allowed a single to lead-off hitter Kevin Tokarski and the Redbird second baseman moved to second on a passed ball. A balk allowed him to advance to third and a walk and a hit batter by Zerrusen loaded the bases with one out. But he coaxed a two-hopper to shortstop Josh Parr for an inning ending double play.
Zerrusen found a groove in the second inning, striking out two, and the Illini looked to threaten as center fielder Willie Argo reached on an error by the third baseman and DH Mike Giller was hit by a pitch with one out. But left fielder Casey McMurray grounded into a double play to end the inning.
ISU came out swinging their second time through the order as Tokarski led off with a single and catcher Matt Mirabal doubled him home. Right fielder Jake Thornton doubled off the end of third baseman Brandon Hohl's glove, bringing home Mirabal, and left fielder Anthony Ruffolo singled. Third baseman Ryan Court singled in Thonrton and the next hitter sacrificed the runners to second and third with one out. But Zerrusen struck out the next two hitters to retire the side with ISU leading 3-0.
The Illini looked to come back in the fourth as Hohl was hit by a pitch with one out and first baseman Craig Lutes singled through the right side. Second baseman put a charge into a ball, but the wind knocked it down and it turned into a flyout to left-center, then right fielder Davis Hendrickson grounded out to end the inning.
The Redbirds picked up where they left off in the fourth inning, pushing 10 runs across the plate on six hits, two walks, a hit batter and three Illini errors, to increase their lead to 13-0.
Illinois attempted to start a comeback in the top of the sixth when McMurray ripped a 1-2 pitch just inside the foul pole in left field for his third home run of the season, a solo shot. After an out, Hohl reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. He moved up to third on Lutes' groundout and scored on an RBI double down the right-field line by second baseman Pete Cappetta, cutting ISU's lead to 13-2.
The Illini got another run in the seventh when Argo singled up the middle and took second on defensive indifference. Argo moved to third on a groundout by Giller and scored on a groundout by McMurray, making ISU's margin 13-3.
Illinois kept pushing in the eighth inning as Hohl reached on an error by the second baseman and Lutes beat the pitcher to first base on his grounder. Hohl was put out on a grounder to third by Cappetta and Hendrickson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Parr grounded out, driving in Lutes, and Argo walked to load the bases. Giller singled up the middle, bringing home two runs and moving Argo to third. McMurray reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that plated Argo and Giller, and, after a pitching change, Johnson was safe on another error by the shortstop. Hohl grounded out to third to end the inning, but not after the Illini had cut their deficit to 13-8.
Reliever John Anderson kept Illinois in the game with two nearly flawless innings of relief, allowing only one walk while striking out three. The Illini began to threaten with two outs in the ninth when pinch hitters Daniel Parker and Adam Davis each were hit by pitches, but Argo struck out to end the game.
Lutes was the only Illini with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run, while Giller was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and McMurray was 1-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBIs. Hendrickson also was 1-for-3 with a run.
Illinois has its home opener Wednesday against Chicago State at 6:05 p.m. at Illinois Field. The Cougars fell to Indiana State on Tuesday by a 10-4 margin.
