April 23, 2010

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Illinois opened its Big Ten series at Michigan State on Friday by splitting a doubleheader, winning game one 4-3 in 10 innings before dropping a 10-2 loss in game two. Wes Braun and Bryan Roberts combined to toss four shutout innings of relief in game one and Casey McMurray drove in the winning run in the tenth inning of the first game with a groundout as the Illini (18-17 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) won its second consecutive extra-inning game before dropping the nightcap of the twinbill.

"We played 18 quality innings today, but we let the first inning of the second game get away from us," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "In the first game, we pitched extremely well and came up with a few big hits. In the second game, we just gave up too much in that first inning and couldn't get anything going offensively after that."

MSU got on the board first in game one with a solo home run to right field by third baseman Torsten Boss in the bottom of the second, but the Illini responded with two runs on three hits in the third. With one out, shortstop Josh Parr pulled a single through the left side and stole second. After center fielder Willie Argo flied out, second baseman Christian Cummins knocked a base hit to left - driving in Parr - and moved to second on the throw home. McMurray then singled down the left-field line to bring home Cummins and put the Illini up 2-1.

The Spartans retook the lead in the fifth, though, after a leadoff homer from left fielder Bo Felt tied it up and Illini starter Lee Zerrusen gave up a double. After a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, the runner came home to put MSU on top, 3-2.

But McMurray blasted his fifth home run of the year to left field on a 1-0 count in the sixth inning to tie the game 3-3. In the top of the seventh, Zerrusen was hit by a line drive and had to leave the game, but Wes Braun came on and pitched three scoreless innings as the game went to extra innings, including two strikeouts in the seventh with a man on second base.

In the tenth inning, Parr was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Argo's sacrifice bunt. Cummins grounded to the shortstop, who threw to third in attempt to cut down Parr, but the runners were safe on the corners. McMurray then grounded to the second baseman and beat out the double-play relay throw to drive in Parr for the go-ahead run and a 4-3 lead.

Closer Bryan Roberts relieved Braun in the bottom of the tenth and coaxed a flyout to right fielder Craig Lutes before inducing consecutive grounders to Cummins to end the game and lock up his sixth save of the year in a 4-3 victory.

The Spartans jumped all over Illini starter Kevin Johnson in game two, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first on six hits - four of them doubles - and a walk, and chased Johnson with a quick run in the second inning.

Kevin Manson relieved Johnson with nobody on in the second and got out of the inning in only eight pitches, retiring the side on a pop-out to Parr, a flyout to Argo and a bouncer back to the mound. He then needed only five pitches in each the third and fourth innings to retire the side.

The Illini got on the board in the fifth inning thanks to consecutive singles by catcher Adam Davis and Parr. After a deep fly-out to right by Argo that moved Davis to third, the two base runners executed a double-steal as Davis slid in safely, cutting MSU's lead to 8-1.

But the Spartans responded with a base hit and a two-run homer by Felt - his second of the day and the season - to extend Michigan State's lead to 10-1 after five innings.

The Illini put two runners on base in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but the single run in the fifth was the only one they could manage until the ninth when MSU brought in reliever Kyle Corcoran. Pinch hitter Thomas Shelton knocked a leadoff single to center and moved to second on a wild pitch. After pinch hitter Daniel Parker struck out, pinch hitter Matt Milroy walked. Pinch hitter Bill Charvat singled to deep left-center, but the runners had to hold up in case one of the Spartan outfielders was able to haul it in. But it fell in for a hit, loading the bases. Pete Cappetta, who replaced Cummins at second in the bottom of the eighth, lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make the MSU lead 10-2. But Davis Hendrickson, who entered in left field in the eighth, fouled out down the left-field line to end the game.

Parr led the Illini on the day, going 3-for-6 with two steals and two runs, and Johnson was 3-for-7 with a double and two steals. Cummins went 2-for-8 with an RBI and a run, and McMurray was 2-for-9 with a homer, three RBIs and a run. Braun pitched three scoreless innings of relief in game one, striking out two, for his first career decision, and Manson gave up only two runs in seven innings of relief, also striking out two.

Illinois and Michigan State square off in the rubber match of the series Saturday at 11:05 a.m. at McLane Stadium, with Will Strack starting for the Illini and Tony Bucciferro getting the ball for the Spartans.