Illinois Down to the Wire

Game Two’s scoreboard says it all

It wasn’t a good day for Illinois baseball. They lost both games to the Michigan State Spartans and it wasn’t really close. They were outscored 23-7 for the two games. I hope Coach Hartleb has some good words of wisdom for boys in Orange and Blue.

They need to win tomorrow to get a berth in the Big Ten tournament. But I’m feeling good about it. So good that I made my train reservation for Ann Arbor (it looks like the Big Ten tournament will be hosted by Michigan). So go get ’em, guys!

Brandon Wikoff welcomes Lars Davis at home plate after Davis’ homer in the first game…

…then Mike Rohde follows up with one of his own.

The one big highlight for our side were back-to-back homers by Lars Davis and Mike Rohde in the sixth inning of the first game which accounted for the only runs the Illini scored in that game.

Coach Hartleb debates the ump’s call of safe on Eric Roof’s inside-the-park homer

Eric Roof (yes, Shawn’s brother) who was 0 for 4 in the Illini’s win Friday got his hitting shoes on today. In the first game, he hit a deep line drive to center all the way to the wall. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson went for it and we all heard a THUD! as he hit the wall. Roof circled the bases as Ryan Snowden who was playing left picked up the ball and threw it in. The relay throw made it to the plate in time for a play. Whether or not, you thought Eric Roof was out depended on where your loyalties lie but important
thing was the man in blue said he was safe. Inside the park home run for Roof, his first homer of the season. You can be sure there were a lot a family members cheering for him then.

Don’t worry, folks. Hud’s ok now.

Meanwhile, Kyle Hudson was lying on ground in center. He eventually got up and stayed in the game. I talked to him between games and he said he just got knocked around a bit but nowhere special and felt fine.

Speaking of getting knocked around, Mike Rohde experienced pain in his shoulder when reaching up for a grounder in game two and had to be taken to the trainer’s room. He eventually came out and I talked to him briefly. He said he should be good for Sunday’s game. Nick Stockwell filled in at first for the remainder of the game and actually made some pretty decent plays.

Last I checked, the starters have not been announced.

I took some photos. Take a look.

Go Illini!!

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