April 10, 2010

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Illinois gave up a three-run first inning to Iowa and could never recover as the Hawkeyes evened the Big Ten series with a 6-4 victory at Duane Banks Field on Saturday. Shortstop Josh Parr went 2-for-4 and center fielder Willie Argo hit a three-run home run as the Illini fell to 13-12 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten.

"We didn't do a good job of working counts at the plate today, which has been a strength for us lately," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "But we also hit some balls hard that were right at fielders, which is just baseball. On the mound, we need to do a better job of not letting leadoff men on base - that's been a problem all series."

Iowa (11-16, 2-3) jumped ahead early with three runs on four hits and a walk in the bottom of the first, including a pair of doubles, grabbing a 3-0 lead. But the Illini evened the score at 3 when catcher Adam Davis was hit by a pitch with one out in the third inning and shortstop Josh Parr legged out a bunt single. Center fielder Willie Argo cranked a three-run home run to left field, a three-run dinger that tied the game 3-3.

But Iowa regained the lead in the fifth when they scored two runs on a single, a hit batter, a walk, two wild pitches and an errant throw behind the runner on third by Davis as the Hawkeyes took a 5-3 lead.

In the sixth, left fielder Casey McMurray lined a one-out single to left field and moved to third when Johnson singled to left. But third baseman Brandon Hohl grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Iowa threatened in the seventh when Wes Braun relieved starter Kevin Johnson to start the inning. Braun got two quick outs but gave up an infield hit and a double down the left-field line before giving way to Corey Kimes, who came on and retired Iowa first baseman Phil Keppler to escape the jam.

But the Hawkeyes pushed across a run in the eighth when Kimes gave up a leadoff hit and hit the next batter. Mike Sterk relieved him and the Illini retired the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out of the inning. But Iowa shortstop Kurt Lee singled through the left side to bring home a run and push the Hawkeye lead to 6-3.

Illinois tried to stage a late rally in the ninth when Hohl drew a leadoff walk. The next two hitters made outs but pinch hitter Thomas Shelton singled through the right side to put men on first and second. Parr punched a single through the right side to score Hohl, but Argo grounded to second to end the game with Iowa earning the 6-4 win.

Parr was the only Illini to notch multiple hits on the afternoon, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Argo was 1-for-5 with a three-run homer, while Hohl and Davis scored Illinois' other two runs despite not recording a hit.

Iowa and Illinois square off in the rubber match of the series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Lee Zerrusen will start for the Illini, while the Hawkeyes will send Phil Schrieber to the hill.