March 25, 2011

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Right fielder Davis Hendrickson drew a walk to load the bases with the game tied at 6 in the bottom of the ninth and DH Pat Sheehan notched Illinois' third walk of the inning to force in the game-winning run as the Illini came back to top Indiana State, 7-6, at Illinois Field on Friday. The Orange and Blue scored three runs in the final two innings to win their fourth-straight home opener.

"This is a good win for us," Illini head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We had some adversity and we found a way to score three runs late in the game for an exciting win. We did some things well throughout the game but it shows a lot of character and fight from our team to find a way to win."

The Sycamores scored first after the leadoff hitter opened the game with a double and moved to third on a slow roller to Hohl. He scored on a sacrifice fly to put Indiana State up 1-0.

Illini starter Kevin Johnson found a groove in the second, retiring the Sycamores in order and the Orange and Blue loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning after an error, a single and a walk. But the next two hitters struck out and grounded out to end the inning.

Johnson gave up a two-out walk and a bunt single, then the runners moved up a station on a wild pitch. ISU right fielder Robby Ort shot a high liner toward shortstop but Josh Parr timed his leap perfectly to snare it for the final out of the inning, keeping the Sycamores off the board.

Center fielder Willie Argo got the offense going in the third inning with a leadoff double and Parr grounded to the shortstop, who tried to throw out Argo at third. But his throw was wild, leaving Argo safe and allowing Parr to advance to second. After a strikeout, catcher Adam Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Dittman roped a double down the left-field line, bringing home two runs. Hohl then knocked a single up the middle to bring home Davis and Hohl for a 4-1 Illini lead.

Johnson worked around a one-out walk and single, striking out the next hitting and getting a chopper back to the mound to end the inning.

But the Sycamores got a pair of runs in the fifth, scoring them with two outs. After Johnson induced a pop-up to Dittman and a fly-out to Hendrickson, he walked a batter and gave up a bunt single to Ort. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base and clean-up hitter Ryan Walterhouse ripped a single through the left side to cut Illinois' lead to 4-3.

The Illini went down scoreless in the fifth and Chris Pack relieved Johnson to start the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. After a fly-out, the runner advanced to third on a wild pitch and Pack hit a batter. Center fielder Lucas Hileman doubled to right-center, plating both runners for a 5-4 Indiana State lead.

The Illini looked to have something brewing in the sixth when second baseman Thomas Lindauer singled to left center with one out. After another out, Lindauer advanced to second when the second baseman didn't handle the pickoff throw from first cleanly. Parr singled to right and Lindauer was waved around third, but he was out by two steps at the plate, ending the inning.

The Sycamores added a run to their lead in the seventh after consecutive two-out doubles, going ahead 6-4. But Pack settled down in the eighth, retiring Indiana State in order on eight pitches. Hendrickson started the Illini rally in the eighth with a one-out single through the right side. One out later, Hendrickson stole second as Sheehan struck out on a 3-2 count and Lindauer ripped a single to left-center, driving in Hendrickson to bring the Illini within 6-5.

Pack worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, inducing a pair of fly-outs to Hendrickson sandwiched around a strikeout, to set up the Illini's ninth-inning heroics.

Parr started the inning with a walk on a 3-2 count and moved to second on a groundout. Davis struck out but reached first when the catcher muffed the pitch and it bounced off his right foot, squirting toward the Illini dugout. Parr also moved to third on the play and Dittman ripped a 1-1 pitch through the right side for an RBI single, tying the game 6-6. Davis got a good jump on the play and looked to be attempting to go first-to-third, but he slipped rounding second and had to retreat to the bag. After a pitching change, Hohl worked a 3-2 count before grounding out to the third baseman on a close call at first base. But Hendrickson drew a walk on another 3-2 count and Sheehan worked it to 3-2 before seeing ball four, driving in Davis for the game-winning run.

Dittman led the Illini offense on the day, going 2-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run, and Hohl went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Lindauer also recorded a multiple-hit game, doing 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hendrickson went 1-for-3 with two walks, a steal and a run. Argo and McMurray also added stolen bases for the Illini, and Parr and Davis both scored twice.

The Illini and Sycamores continue the series Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. Right-hander John Anderson will take the ball for the Orange and Blue, while Indiana State will send righty Jason Van Skike.