Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Junior shortstop Josh Parr was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and sophomore left fielder Davis Hendrickson went 3-for-4 with two runs as Illinois notched a 7-3 win over Cincinnati in its second game of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge at Jack Russell Stadium on Saturday. Starting pitcher John Anderson allowed only one run in five innings and Chris Pack pitched four quality innings in his first appearance as an Illini to earn the save as the Orange and Blue improved to 1-1 on the season.

"We played much better defensively today," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We bunched hits together well and took much better swings at the plate, and Anderson and Pack did a good job of putting us in position to win."

Cincinnati got on the board first when Anderson walked the leadoff man in the second inning. The next batter reached on a 5-4 fielder's choice that put out the lead runner, but an infield hit put men on first and second, and a base hit to right drove in the runner from second for a 1-0 Bearcats lead.

But the Illini responded with a four-run bottom of the second thanks to four singles and two stolen bases. With one out, catcher Adam Davis walked and second baseman Justin Parr beat out an infield hit. Third baseman Brandon Hohl ripped an RBI single down the left-field line and left fielder Davis Hendrickson legged out another infield hit to load the bases. After a fly-out, Josh Parr knocked a single to center field, driving in Hohl and Justin Parr. Josh Parr and Hendrickson then executed a double-steal with Hendrickson swiping home as the shortstop's throw to the plate was wide, putting the Illini up 4-1.

The Bearcats looked to respond in the third when Anderson issued consecutive walks with one out. But he induced a fly-out to Pete Cappetta in right field and fanned the next batter to retire the side.

After Anderson set down Cincinnati in order in the fourth, Hohl started the bottom half with a base hit to left, driving 2010 Freshman All-American Andrew Strenge from the game. Hendrickson beat out his second infield hit of the game and, one out later, Josh Parr doubled down the right-field line to plate Hohl and advance Hendrickson to third. DH Casey McMurray then drove home both runners with a single to left, pushing Illinois' lead to 7-1.

Anderson ran his string of consecutive batters retired to eight with a 1-2-3 fifth inning, but his pitch count was high and Pack relieved him to start the sixth. After fanning the first batter he faced, Pack gave up a walk, a single and a two-run double to left before coaxing a pair of pop-ups to Justin Parr to retire the side and keep the Illini ahead 7-3.

Pack retired eight consecutive batters from the sixth inning to the ninth before giving up a one-out walk in the final frame. He coaxed a pop-up to Hohl and a fly-out to Cappetta to end the game, though.

Hendrickson was 3-for-4 with two runs and a steal, and Josh Parr was 2-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, a run and a steal. McMurray went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a steal, and Davis went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run. Hohl also was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

Anderson struck out a career high-tying four batters while walking three and allowing only one run on two hits in his five innings of work, to earn his second career victory. Pack pitched four innings, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout, notching his first career save.

The Illini finish the Big East/Big Ten Challenge Sunday with a noon start time against West Virginia. Gametracker and live streaming video will be available for the contest.