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April 28, 2009

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Five Illini pitchers combined to allow only one run on eight hits and freshman DH and reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Willie Argo (Davenport, Iowa) continued his hot streak of late with a fourth-inning grand slam as Illinois cruised to a 5-1 win over Southern Illinois Tuesday at Illinois Field, marking the Illini's 300th win at Illinois Field. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) and third baseman Dominic Altobelli (Oak Forest, Ill.) both went 2-for-4 on the night, with Wikoff homering and Altobelli scoring a run.

"We pitched well start to finish and we had some timely hitting tonight," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "(Left fielder Casey) McMurray made a big catch to get us out of the fifth, as well. Now we have to keep our focus tomorrow against a good Indiana State team."

Starter Lee Zerrusen (Teutopolis, Ill.) retired the Salukis in order in the first inning on 10 pitches and gave up a two-out single in the second before retiring the side to finish his excellent two innings of work. Left-hander Blake Fairchild (Mattoon, Ill.) worked around a leadoff single, a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Aaron Johnson (Sussex Corner, New Brunswick) and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with two outs. But he induced a grounder to Josh Parr (Chillicothe, Ill.) at second base to escape the threat.

Mike Sterk (Oak Lawn, Ill.) came on in the fourth inning and worked around a two-out base hit and stolen base for a scoreless frame to set up Illinois' big offensive inning of the night.

The Illini got on the board in the fourth when Wikoff yanked a leadoff home run to right field, his fourth on the year. The Illini kept the rally going when Altobelli dropped a double into left-center and Johnson was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Pete Cappetta (Lisle, Ill.) drew a walk to load the bases and Argo blasted a 1-0 pitch over the scoreboard in left field for his first career grand slam and a 5-0 lead.

Sterk set down the Salukis in order in the fifth, including recording his second strikeout on the night, and Corey Kimes took the ball in the sixth inning. He gave up a pair of base hits to start the frame but induced a 5-3 double play to Altobelli, leaving a runner at second with two down. Kimes gave up a walk and a throwing error by Wikoff loaded the bases, but McMurray (Willow Springs, Ill.) saved the day with a diving catch in left-center to prevent an extra-base hit and keep SIU off the scoreboard.

Kimes responded by working a 1-2-3 seventh inning before giving up a run in the eighth on a fielder's choice, a walk and an RBI single. But he got out of the frame with a flyout to right to strand runners on first and third. The Salukis threatened in the ninth against reliever Wes Braun (Deerfield, Ill.) with a one-out triple and a two-out walk, but Braun coaxed a flyout to right to end the game.

In the game, Wikoff was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a triple, and Altobelli was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Argo blasted his ninth homer of the year, moving him into fifth place by himself on the Illinois record list for homers by a freshman.

Zerrusen pitched two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit, while throwing 16 strikes and only three balls. Fairchild threw 10 strikes out of 13 pitches while allowing only one hit in his inning of shutout relief. Sterk struck out a pair while giving up one hit, tossing 17 strikes and five balls. And Braun threw 13 strikes in 21 pitches, giving up a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the ninth inning. In all, Illinois pitchers threw 84 strikes and 40 balls, an incredible 67.7 strike percentage.

Up Next: Illinois travels to Indiana State Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CT). The Illini then visit Northwestern next weekend in a three-game Big Ten series.