April 7, 2010

Box Score |  Illinois vs. Missouri at Busch Stadium 

ST. LOUIS - Illinois scored four runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead, but Missouri grabbed a one-run lead with three in the third inning and scored a pair of insurance runs in the eighth for a 7-4 victory in front of 3,153 fans at Busch Stadium. Left fielder Casey McMurray went 2-for-4 with an RBI and reliever Wes Braun pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings for the Illini, who fall to 12-11 on the season.

Missouri got on the board first after a base hit by first baseman Aaron Senne and an RBI double to the gap in right-center by catcher Brett Nicholas to go up 1-0. Illini starter Kevin Manson walked the bases loaded but was able to retire the side by coaxing a flyout to left fielder Casey McMurray.

But the Illini responded with four runs in the second inning after second baseman Pete Cappetta was hit by a pitch and DH Adam Davis poked a single to right-center. Shortstop Josh Parr executed a hit-and-run to perfection, slashing a single to right field to bring home Cappetta from third and move Davis from first to third. Parr and Davis then pulled off a double-steal with Davis scoring and Parr moving to third when the second baseman's throw home went to the backstop. Center fielder Willie Argo walked and Mike Giller welcomed reliever Phil McCormick with a bunt single over the first baseman's head that plated Parr. Left fielder Casey McMurray ripped a single to left that brought home Argo on a close play at the plate, posting the Illini to a 4-1 lead.

Missouri got a run back in the bottom of the second thanks to an Illini error. After a leadoff single, Manson coaxed a foul pop-up that third baseman Brandon Hohl gloved for the first out. The next hitter, shortstop Michael Liberto, smashed one to Hohl's backhand side, but the Illini freshman gloved it, spun and threw to second. His throw was a bit wide of the base, though, and bounced into right field, allowing the runner to advance to third. Senne brought him in with a bloop base hit down the left-field line, cutting Illinois' lead to 4-2.

Illini reliever Bill Barrett came on to pitch the third inning but ran into trouble after giving up three runs and a double. Wes Braun relieved him and got a grounder up the middle, but it took a nasty hop and bounced over Parr's shoulder for a two-run single. Braun walked the next hitter to fill the bases, but he responded with a strikeout and a groundout to Cappetta to escape the inning with Missouri holding a 5-4 lead.

Braun then pitched three masterful innings to keep the Illini within one run, keeping the Tigers scoreless in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Braun gave up three hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts in his 3 2/3 innings of work, more than doubling his season innings pitched.

Argo drew a two-out walk in the seventh inning and stole second, but Giller lined out to left to end the inning. Corey Kimes entered to pitch the bottom of the seventh and gave up a one-out walk before inducing a groundout to Hohl and fanning Missouri leadoff man Michael Liberto to retire the side.

But the Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the eighth on only one hit, taking advantage of two walks by Kimes and a hit batter by Mike Sterk - the first batter he faced after relieving Kimes - to go ahead 7-4. Illinois couldn't muster a baserunner in the ninth and fell by that score.

McMurray was the lone Illini to collect multiple hits on the night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Argo walked twice, stole a base and scored, and Giller and Parr each knocked in a run.

The Illini return to action Friday at Iowa with a 6:05 p.m. start to the weekend series. Will Strack will take the ball for Illinois, while Jared Hippen will start for the Hawkeyes.