Feb. 20, 2015
Box Score | Printable Box Score | Photos | Hartleb Interview
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Fighting Illini exploded for 13 runs on 13 hits to earn their first 5-0 start in 29 years following a 13-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast (2-4) on Friday night at Swanson Stadium. Starter Drasen Johnson turned in a quality start with eight strikeouts in seven innings for his first victory of the year, while senior Casey Fletcher equaled a career-best 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.
"Drasen was in command in another great pitching performance," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We scored a few runs early then had the big seven-run inning that blew things open. The bottom of the order was outstanding and scored the majority of the runs. Drasen deserved to win last weekend, but we couldn't score runs for him, so it was nice to see that for him today."
Illinois won its opening five games of the season for the first time since starting 7-0 in 1986. The Illini recorded double-digit hits for the fourth time this season and did not record an error for the second straight game.
UI lit up the scoreboard in the even-numbered innings with a run in the second, two in the fourth, seven in the sixth and two more in the eighth before capping it off with one final run in the ninth.
Sophomore Ryne Roper began the scoring in the second with an RBI double that plated Fletcher. After FGCU took a 2-1 lead on a two-run single in the third, the Illini responded right back with two runs in the fourth for a 3-2 advantage. Senior David Kerian ripped an RBI double to score junior Ryan Nagle, while Fletcher brought Kerian home with an RBI single.
The Illini capitalized on five walks and two errors in the sixth for their biggest inning of the year so far with seven runs. After three consecutive walks loaded the bases, Fletcher poked a two-run single through the right side. Another walk loaded the bases before sophomore Pat McInerney blooped an RBI single.
After a fly out, senior Will Krug drilled a two-run single followed by a fifth walk that loaded the bags for a third time. Junior Jason Goldstein recorded a sacrifice fly that brought home McInerney and also allowed Krug to score when the throw to third was wild, making it 10-2.
Johnson retired 11 of the final 12 FGCU batters he faced and cruised through seven solid innings on 72 pitches. The Chillicothe, Illinois, native only allowed four hits, two runs and two walks in an efficient outing.
Krug's fielder's choice knocked in redshirt-freshman Dan Rowbottom for his first career run and Goldstein's RBI double continued the hit parade in the eighth. Ryne Roper's second RBI double of the night wrapped up the scoring in the ninth inning.
Redshirt-freshman Doug Hayes worked a scoreless eighth in his first career appearance as an Illini and redshirt-junior Andrew Mamlic closed out a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.
Up Next: Illinois will take on Fordham at noon CT on Saturday at Swanson Stadium.
