March 18, 2011

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Illinois scored 13 runs in the final seven innings but couldn't hold off Northern Illinois as the Huskies took a 15-14 victory at Abe Martin Field on Friday. Brandon Hohl, Willie Argo and Davis Hendrickson all homered and the top four hitters in the Illini order combined to go 9-for-20, but the Illini fell to 4-10 on the season.

"We swung the bats better today and we didn't beat ourselves by walking a lot of guys, but we weren't locating our pitches very well," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We aren't doing the things it takes to win right now. We're playing extremely hard and we're so close in a lot of areas, but we aren't doing the little things it takes to be successful."

Illinois grabbed a first-inning lead when shortstop Josh Parr walked on four straight pitches and moved to second when the second baseman made an error on a ball hit by left fielder Casey McMurray. Both runners moved up a station on a wild pitch and Parr came home on a groundout by catcher Adam Davis for a 1-0 advantage.

But Northern Illinois battled back in a big way in the bottom half of the frame, as the Huskies took advantage of five hits, a walk and an Illini error to take a 4-1 lead. NIU tacked on three more in the second on three hits and two walks to go ahead 7-1.

The Illini started chipping away in the third when Argo drew a one-out walk and stole second. A groundout moved him to third and he scored on McMurray's base hit to right. Davis singled to right, advancing McMurray to third, and first baseman Matt Dittman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McMurray scored on a wild pitch and Hohl ripped a 2-0 pitch to left field for a three-run home run, bringing the Illini within 7-6.

Illinois grabbed its first lead of the game in the fourth when DH Pete Cappetta reached with a leadoff single and Hendrickson singled up the middle to moved Cappetta to third. NIU brought in reliever Alex Klonowski and, after an out, Hendrickson moved to second on a wild pitch. Cappetta scored on Parr's RBI groundout and Hendrickson scored as McMurray reached on an error to push the Illini on top, 8-7.

But NIU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on three singles and an RBI groundout to go back ahead, 9-8. The Huskies extended their advantage with three more in the fifth after a one-out double, a hit batter and a three-run homer to make the score 12-8.

Hendrickson recorded the first home run of his career, a solo shot, in the top of the sixth, and Argo walked. He stole second and, after an out, McMurray drove him in with a base hit through the left side, bringing the Illini within 12-10.

The Huskies countered with three runs in the seventh on four hits, an error and a walk to extend their lead to 15-10. Argo led off the eighth inning with a home run down the left-field line and Parr singled to right field. McMurray singled up the middle and Davis drove in Parr with a base hit through the right side. Dittman's groundout brought McMurray home, cutting the Huskies' margin to 15-13.

Illini pitcher Lee Zerrusen worked a clean bottom of the eighth, and the Illini started to mount a comeback as Argo knocked a two-out single and stole second. Parr ripped a double down the left-field line to bring the Illini within a run, but McMurray flew out to right-center to end the game with the Illini falling, 15-14.

Argo led the Illini offense, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs, two walks and three stolen bases. McMurray was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs, Hohl went 2-for-5 with a dinger and three RBIs and Parr was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Davis went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run and Hendrickson was 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored.

Illinois returns to action Saturday against Saint Louis at 11 a.m. in Carbondale. Junior left-hander Corey Kimes will start for the Illini while right-hander Jerry Mancuso will take the ball for the Billikens.