Feb. 17, 2012

Box Score

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Junior left fielder Justin Parr hit his first career home run and notched his first career four-hit game but it wasn't enough as Illinois pitchers hit six Notre Dame batters and issued six walks as the Fighting Irish pulled out a 13-12 season-opening victory on a wet afternoon at the Walter Fuller Complex.

"It was a rough day," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We had a lot of new people out on the field and the weather had an effect on both teams with it raining most of the game. But we had chances to get outs in some different situations and we just didn't get the job done. Offensively, our guys did a really good job. They came up with big hits and showed great character by not giving up when we were down, but at the same time, we've got to find a way to win games like this one."

The Irish got on the board first in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on four hits and a sacrifice fly. But Illinois battled back in the bottom half as freshman designated hitter Michael Hurwitz drew a leadoff walk and Parr followed by hammering a 1-2 pitch to right field for his first career homer, a two-run shot that tied the game at 2. One out later, redshirt-freshman second baseman Reid Roper ripped a ringing double off the wall in center field for his first collegiate hit but was put out at third on center fielder Willie Argo's bouncer back to the mound.

Illini starting pitcher Kevin Johnson seemed to get more comfortable in the second inning, working around a two-out single to post a clean frame. After Illinois went down scoreless in the bottom half, Notre Dame first baseman Trey Mancini started the third inning by ripping a 2-2 pitch from Johnson over the wall in left for a solo homer. After consecutive hit batters and a bunt single loaded the bases, the Irish put up three more runs in the frame to take a 6-2 lead.

But the Orange and Blue fought back in the bottom of the third with Hurwitz tagging a leadoff triple to right-center for his first hit in an Illini uniform and Parr smoking an RBI double to left. Third baseman Brandon Hohl was hit by a pitch and Roper jumped on a 3-1 offering from Irish starter Sean Fitzgerald for his first career homer - a three-run shot - tying the game 6-6 and chasing Fitzgerald.

But the Irish posted two more runs in the fourth on three hits, including a two-run homer by catcher Joe Hudson, to go ahead 8-6. Illinois went scoreless in the bottom half and Notre Dame added another run in the fifth off freshman reliever Josh Ferry to move the margin to 9-6.

But Illinois hit the comeback trail again in the bottom of the fifth as Parr legged out an infield hit and Hohl executed a perfect hit-and-run with a base hit to left-center that moved Parr to third. Roper was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Argo drove in Parr with a sacrifice fly. Roper moved up with the relay throw went off the shortstop's glove and first baseman Jordan Parr crushed a ball into the gap in left-center. But Notre Dame left fielder made a great play where he caught the ball as he crashed into the fence, robbing Parr of extra bases and holding him to a sacrifice fly that drove in Hohl and brought the Illini within 9-8.

Ferry hit the first batter he faced in the sixth but worked around it, cutting down the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt attempt, striking out the next hitter and retiring the side on a grounder to Roper. Irish reliever Steve Sabatino held the Illini scoreless in the sixth as well, one of only two innings in which neither team scored.

Notre Dame took advantage of wildness by Illinois relievers Matt Milroy and Luke Joyce in the seventh, turning a single, a walk and two hit batters into two runs and extending its lead to 11-8. But the Orange and Blue continued to show impressive fortitude, scoring three runs in the bottom half. Hohl and Roper drew a pair of walks to start the frame and, after a pitching change and an out, Jordan Parr walked to load the bases. Right fielder Davis Hendrickson drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch and freshman pinch hitter David Kerian forced in a run by drawing a walk. After another pitching change, shortstop Thomas Lindauer drove home Parr with a sacrifice fly as Illinois scored three runs without the benefit of a hit to tie the game, 11-11.

The Irish continued to battle as well, using a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and a base hit to push across a run in the eighth. Hohl got it going in the bottom half when he was hit by a pitch with one out and Roper walked. Hohl advanced to third on Argo's fly-out to center and Jordan Parr drove him in with a sharp single to left-center - his first hit as an Illini - tying the game once again, 12-12.

But Notre Dame pushed across the winning run when Hudson led off the ninth with a solo homer, his second of the game. The Illini appeared to have the makings of a rally in the bottom half when Lindauer beat out an infield hit with one out and, after another out, Justin Parr also singled to shortstop. But Hohl flied out to center to end the game as the Irish took the 13-12 victory.

Justin Parr had one of the finer season-openers in recent memory, going 4-for-6 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs, while Roper nearly matched it by reaching base five times, going 2-for-2 with a homer, a double, three RBIs, two runs and two walks. Jordan Parr drove in two with a 1-for-3 day, while Hohl also went 1-for-3 and scored four runs. Hurwitz showed his potential by reaching base three times and scoring twice in the leadoff spot.

Because of the steady rain in the St. Petersburg area on Friday, Louisville - Illinois' opponent on Saturday - wasn't able to finish its opener against Minnesota. That game was suspended with the Gophers leading 7-3 and Louisville hitting in the top of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded. It will be completed at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday before the Illini face the No. 25 Cardinals at 4 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium. Illinois will send redshirt-freshman left-hander Rob McDonnell to the hill, while Louisville will give the ball to sophomore right-hander Jeff Thompson. Gametracker and a live blog will once again be available at FightingIllini.com.