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Baseball
Illini Stage Hit Parade in 16-1 Win Over Greenville
May 2, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois scored six runs in the first inning and cruised from there, defeating Greenville College 16-1 in a make-up game scheduled because of contests lost to inclement weather earlier in the season. Five Illini had at least two hits, led by Ryan Hastings' 4-for-6 night with three RBI as Illinois won its sixth-straight mid-week game. The Illini are 7-2 in mid-week games with one remaining. "The first inning we did a good job offensively, which put us in a situation where we could get some young people into the game," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "We got everybody some at bats and we were very patient at the plate. There were only three or four times all night where we didn't take good at bats." Illinois (22-20) came out swinging in the first inning, scoring six runs on five hits and two errors, a hit batter and a walk. Rightfielder Ryan Snowden led off with a double down the left-field line - his seventh lead-off double of the season - and leftfielder Joe Bonadonna doubled down the right-field line, scoring Snowden. DH Lars Davis was hit by a pitch, then Davis and Bonadonna executed a double-steal and Bonadonna scored when the throw sailed into center. After a groundout, shortstop Shawn Roof walked and stole second before second baseman Ryan Hastings singled home both runs. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson reached on an error by the first baseman that allowed Hastings to move up to third. Hudson stole and third baseman Dominic Altobelli shot a single through the right side, driving in Hudson and Hastings for a 6-0 lead. The Illini got three more in the second, all with two outs. With one out, Davis was hit by a pitch, Stockwell walked and Roof reached on an error. One out later, Davis scored on a wild pitch and Hudson blooped a double into shallow left, driving in two more for a 9-0 lead. Greenville (19-18) got a run in the top of the third, but Illinois added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth when Bonadonna and Davis led off the inning with back-to-back triples. One out later, Davis scored on a groundout to make the lead 12-1. The Illini added two more in the sixth when catcher Joe Mercurio led off with a single and first baseman Mike Giller, who entered in the top half of the frame, doubled to right-center. One out later, Davis singled off the first baseman's glove, driving in both runners and advancing to second on the throw home for a 14-1 lead. The Illini added two more in the ninth for the final 16-1 margin. Aaron Martin threw three solid innings in a starting role, giving up a run on one hit and a walk while striking out two. Mike Sterk, Luke Obukowicz, Brian Long, Aaron Ifft and Ben Reeser all turned in scoreless relief outings, Ifft going two innings and Long needing just eight pitches in his frame of work.
"Our pitching staff settled down a little bit," Hartleb said. "Some young guys who hadn't gotten innings and some guys who didn't have many innings got on the mound and they put us in a situation where we could get everybody some at bats, and we haven't been able to do that the last two weeks." For the game, Hastings was 4-for-6 with two RBI and a run, and Davis went 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBI, three runs and a steal. Mercurio went 2-for-5 with a double and a run. Snowden had two hits, including a double, and Bonadonna had two hits and two runs. Altobelli drove in two runs and Roof scored three times. Up Next: Illinois leaves Thursday for a four-game series at Michigan beginning Friday with a 5:35 p.m. (CT) first pitch. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday's finale will start at 11:05 a.m.. "Every conference weekend is so important," Hartleb said. "We have a chance to put ourselves in a great position for the tournament by going in and winning a couple of games. These are the games that are fun when you play top teams it gives you a great opportunity to go out and show some people around the country that we're a quality ball club." |
