Feb. 26, 2011

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Fighting Illini scored five runs in the ninth inning, including a bases-clearing triple by second baseman Justin Parr, to pull out a 7-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast at Swanson Stadium on Saturday. The victory gives Illinois a series win and the chance to sweep the Eagles on Sunday.

DH Casey McMurray notched a game-high three hits, while Parr, catcher Adam Davis and third baseman Brandon Hohl each recorded two knocks. The Illini capitalized on four walks and four hit batters while only handing out two free passes and hitting two batters. After striking out eight times in the first five innings, including seven with runners on base, Illinois fanned only three times in the last four innings.

"They brought in a hard-thrower with two outs in the eighth who wasn't throwing a lot of strikes and our guys handled it well," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We had some very good at bats that inning. We got some guys on base and Justin Parr absolutely pummeled a ball for that triple. Yesterday, the top of the order was really productive, but today it was the bottom half of the order that got it done. That's just good team baseball.

"Anderson and Pack both threw well and did a good job with runners on base and in scoring position. And defensively, we were very good. I have to give credit to their pitching because we struck out a lot with runners in scoring position in the first half of the game, but we found a way to get some big hits late in the game. I'm really pleased with the composure and competitiveness that our guys showed today."

Senior starting pitcher John Anderson picked up where he left off last Saturday, retiring the first four hitters he faced. He also got a pick-up from right fielder Pete Cappetta in the bottom of the second when Anderson gave up a base hit with men on first and second and two outs, as Cappetta threw out the runner at home for the third out of the inning.

Anderson sandwiched a pair of line-outs around a base hit, then FGCU notched another single and Anderson hit a batter to load the bases with two outs in the third, but the crafty veteran induced an inning-ending 6-4 fielder's choice.

He found a rhythm in the fourth, striking out a pair as he set down the Eagles in order. The Illini got on the board first with a run in the fifth when Cappetta reached on a bunt hit and moved to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. He stole third and scored on DH Casey McMurray's base hit. After a pitching change, center fielder Willie Argo was hit by a pitch and first baseman Matt Dittman walked to load the bases. But catcher Adam Davis struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the Inning with the Illini lead at 1-0.

But FGCU fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt. Anderson gave up an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly put the Eagles ahead 2-1. Senior Chris Pack relieved Anderson in the sixth and worked around a two-out single to post a clean inning.

Pack allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, but Davis caught the runner attempting to steal second. Pack gave up consecutive base hits before coaxing a fly-out and hitting a batter to load the bases. But he got the next hitter to fly out to Argo to retire the side with the Illini still trailing, 2-1.

Davis led off the eighth with a base hit to left and moved to second on second baseman Justin Parr's single through the right side. One out later, left fielder Davis Hendrickson punched an RBI single to left field on a 3-2 count, plating Davis and tying the game at 2. Cappetta reached on a fielder's choice that put Hendrickson out at second and shortstop Josh Parr wasn't able to lay down the squeeze bunt as the side was retired.

Pack worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth, needing only 12 pitches. And the Illini bats came alive in the ninth inning after McMurray was hit by a pitch and Argo and Dittman drew back-to-back walks. Davis drove in McMurray with a single to left and Justin Parr blasted a triple to right-center, driving in all three runners. One out later, Hendrickson's sacrifice fly brought home Parr to post Illinois to a 7-2 lead.

Pack struck out the first hitter in the bottom of the ninth then coaxed a fly-out to Cappetta. He then went 0-2 on the next hitter and induced a fly-out to Hendrickson to seal the victory and record his first win as an Illini.

Justin Parr led the offense, going 2-for-5 with a triple, three RBIs and a run, while Davis went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. McMurray was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and Hohl was 2-for-5.

Pack was stellar in his second outing in the Orange and Blue, pitching four scoreless innings of relief, allowing only four hits and striking out three. Anderson gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in his second-straight five-inning start.

The Illini will go for the series sweep Sunday at noon CT. Junior left-hander Corey Kimes will take the ball for Illinois, while Florida Gulf Coast is slated to send senior righty Richie Erath.