Box Score

Relievers Wes Braun, Aaron Martin and Nick Chmielewski combined for two perfect innings and Illinois won 6-0.  Casey McMurray and Nick Stockwell combined for 6 rbis.

It’s been a less than stellar spring trip for the Illini who went in nationally ranked at #19.  Since then, they lost to Army, defeated an over-matched Hartford squad then lost two of three to CCSU.  Fortunately, they ended the week on very positive note.

Welcome back, Nick!

Outfielder Nick Stockwell made his first two starts of the season against Central Connecticut St. and really made his presence known.  Nick went 4 for 8 with 5 rbis, 2 runs to go with his two doubles.  Glad to have him back him back in our lineup.

Streak to 16

For those keeping track, Casey McMurray’s two hits today extends his hit streak to 16 games.  Mac is hitting .338 on the year.

Coming up… MSU at home

This weekend is the Big 10 series opener at home.  We take on what I think is becoming a big rivalry… the Spartans of Michigan State.  Game time is 6:05pm at Illinois Field.

Go Illini!

Illinois didn’t look back after Aaron Johnson’s three-run HR in the 2nd

University of Illinois scored early and often against Illinois State in their 10-4 win Tuesday night.  Much of their offense came from catcher Aaron Johnson who was 3 for 4 with 4 rbis and 3 runs.

Johnson hit a three-run homerun in the second inning which made it 4-0 Illinois.  It was Johnson’s third dinger of the year.

Starter Billy Barrett was on his game tonight

Meanwhile, Billy Barrett was pitching a decent game.  His ERA before the game was 9+.  Never mind though, he held ISU to three hits in five innings giving up two runs.  In his new role in the bullpen, Mike Stankiewicz did well.  In four innings, he allowed just one earned run.

Despite being 0 for 5, Mike Giller scored a run, drove one in and stole a base.

Aaron Johnson wasn’t done.  He led off the 4th with a double and later scored on a ground out.  Illinois put together a small rally in the fifth inning sparked when Mike Giller ran out a fielding error by an ISU error.  Three hits by Ryan Hastings, Johnson, and Daniel Webb put two runs over the plate.

Daniel Webb, who by the way was playing right field tonight instead of his normal DH role, collected four hits for the game.  Dom Altobelli, Joe Bonadonna, Nick Stockwell and Casey McMurray also had multi-hit games.

Due to his ankle injury, Kyle Hudson didn’t suit up.  He did help out warming up the outfielders between innings.

For those wondering, Kyle Hudson did NOT play.  My guess is that Coach Hartleb didn’t want to take any risks in a midweek, non-conference game.  With Hudson’s absence in center, Illinois used Nick Stockwell in center, Dan Webb in right, and Mike Giller at DH.

Box score

More photos I took are here.

Next up: Western Illinois University Wednesday night at 6:30pm at Illinois Field.

Recap:

The first game was a squeaker with Minnesota winning 4-3.  Illinois took the lead 3-2 in the fifth with two runs.  Dom Altobelli’s double down the left field line was responsible for one of those runs but Minnesota coach wasn’t ready to see it that way.  He and most of the crowd were convinced it was foul.  I was listening to the game on radio and I could clearly hear the taunts of the ump.  Even later in the game when an Illini ball was hit foul near the baseline, I could hear the taunts, “Hey Ump, Are you sure it wasn’t fair?”  Well, Coach John Anderson was ejected for his vociferous objections to the ump’s fair call.

Anyway, In the bottom of the sixth, a Gopher sac fly tied the frame.  It stayed knotted up till the bottom of the 7th when Matt Nohelty scored on a Jeff DeSmidt base hit to win it for the Gophers.

Another matter of interest… Kyle Hudson seemed to pull up a bit while running out a ground ball in the fifth inning.  An inning later he was pulled from the game in favor of Nick Stockwell.  He didn’t return for Game two.  I’m hoping it isn’t serious.

[4/20 Update: Team Sports Information Director Ben Taylor tells me that Hudson is ok.  According to Ben, Kyle just "tweaked his ankle" on the play and it's really "shouldn't be a big thing".  Good to hear.]

Speaking of Game 2, it was an offensive game with a score of 9-7 but most of the runs came late in the game.  By the top of the fifth, it was still Illinois 1 Minnesota 0.  Minnesota poured it on in the bottom of the eighth with five runs making it 6-4.

Illinois responded with a five run inning of their own in the top of the final frame thanks to 3 errors by Minnesota.

Kudos to Joe Bonadonna who responded well to taking over the leadoff spot for the game.  ‘Donna was 4 for 4 with a run, 2 rbis and 2 stolen bases.

What now?

The series win put Illinois at 9-7 in the Big Ten and back up a notch or two at third place in the standings behind Michigan and Purdue.  They’re one half game up on Ohio State.

Tuesday, the good guys take on the Cardinals of Illinois State.  The game is at home at Illinois Field at 6:05pm.  We play host this coming weekend to Penn State for some good Big Ten action.  Another important series as State is one game behind us in the standings.

Illinois had the lead early in Bloomington.  They scored four runs in the first three innings and led 4-1 by the third inning.  Indiana stepped up their attack and managed to make the score 7-4 by the seventh.

In the ninth, the good guys rallied and scored four runs they needed to pull ahead.  Nick Stockwell singled and Kyle Hudson followed that up with his fourth hit of the day, a double.  Joe Bonadonna got four straight balls, loading the bases.  The Hoosier firstbaseman booted the ball hit by Brandon Wikoff scoring Stockwell and Hudson.  Altobelli (who is slugging .559 for the season) doubled in Bonadonna to tie the game and Wikoff eventually scored on a sac fly.

Ben Reeser came in and pitched the bottom of the ninth for the save allowing just one hit.

In addition to his four hits, Hudson scored 3 runs and stole 2 bases.  Daniel Webb homered in the second and was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis.

Tomorrow:  It’s a double header against the Hoosiers.  Stankiewicz and Shaw get the call.

I got to the park early today so I could see the boys practice.

The game had a auspicious beginning as starter Nick Chmielewski walked the bases loaded in the first.  To his credit, he got out of that jam.

Unfortunately for reasons beyond my control, I had to leave early.  But not before seeing, Dom Altobelli crack a homer to left center.  That made it 3-0 Illini.

But boy oh boy, I sure wish I had stayed.  I had 1400AM on listening to the game.  Going into the ninth inning, the Illini pitching (four of them at that point) had yet to give up a hit.

But it was not meant to be.  With Ben Reeser on the hill, the no-hitter was broken up by St Louis’ leadoff man J.D. Dunn with 0 outs in the ninth.  St Louis went on to score two runs but that was no match for Illinois’ 9 tallies.

Nick Stockwell led off the second with a homer his second of the season.  He was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.  Kyle Hudson was 2 for 5 with 2 runs ensuring that he would stay at  the .400 mark.  He swiped 3 bases increasing his total to 15.

Final Score: Illinois 9 St Louis 2

I was able to get some photos taken.  You can see them here.  Most of them are before the game.

Way to go, Illini!

Under a cloudless blue sky and 40 degree temperatures Illinois jumped off to a top of the first 3-0 lead, and built it up to 9-1 through the end of the 6th. It reminded this Spartan fan of last nights basketball game. Fall hopelessly behind in the first half, and then battle back to a least make it respectable.

Kevin Manson pitched well, holding MSU in check with his fast ball consistently in the 87-89 mph range. It was not until he left at the end of the 6th that the Spartans were able to mount a four run inning to reach what turned out to be the final of 9-5.

Illinois played an error less and impressive game, in front of what looked to be about 30 orange and navy blue clad Illinois rooters. The players I picked out as “ballplayers” were Kyle Hudson (speed and power), Dominic Altobelli (solid contact every time), Ryan Hastings (has the “look”), and Chris Montgomery (tough out).

Jonathan and Eric Roof were fun to watch. Definitely “old school”, get your uniform dirty, show your socks to the knees, hustling, love the game, ball players. Jonathan is a fixture at short, and Eric caught game one.

We came back home to warm up and get a quick dinner, and will try to get back for to check on game 2.

Fun to be watching baseball again.

Tom

Game 1 Final Score Illinois 9 Michigan State 5

Man, I wish I was there.  Indeed, the players that Tom T. acknowledged in his note seem to be the big guys from a look at the box score.  Hudson was 2 for 4 with 3 runs and 2 stolen bases.  That gives him 11 SBs so far this season, by the way.  Altobelli was 3 for 4 with a double, 2 rbis and run.  Catcher Montgomery was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.

Starter Kevin Manson seemed to have a solid start (3 ER in 6 IP) but looked to have control problems with 5 walks.  Lee Zerrusen who has been pretty untouchable up until now, got lit for 2 runs but Ben Reeser did his magic allowing just one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Game 2 Final Score Illinois 2 Michigan State 0

No doubt, the hero of Game 2 was starting pitcher Mike Stankiewicz.  Stanky pitched a 4-hit shutout.  On top of that, he didn’t allow any walks.

It was goose eggs for both teams until the fifth inning (this was the seven-inning game).  Illinois’ first run came when Nick Stockwell scored on a Joe Bonadonna single.  The next inning, Dom Altobelli scored on a Chris Montgomery fielder’s choice.  Those two runs would be the only runs Illinois would need winning 2-0.

There is a Sunday double header left against MSU.  Good luck, Illini!!

Scoring three more in the third and the fifth, Baylor had an run spurt in the sixth when seven more Bears crossed the plate against Illinois relievers Billy Barrett and Mike Sterk making it 20-3.

Trying to find some highlights, RF Nick Stockwell was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs.  Kyle Hudson drove in 2 runs.

Lee Zerrusen came in to pitch an almost-perfect eight (only giving up a walk).  Of course, it “didn’t matter” but it was good work for the freshman.

Hopefully, the Illini can shake this off and move on to the next game.  They play Stephen F. Austin.

Next Game:

Go get ‘em, Illini!

Reeser was dubbed Coastal Plain League Defensive Player of the Year after winning a Fayetteville Swampdog team record 8 games with a 1.61 ERA. 

Stockwell ended the summer season well.  His Lombard Orioles won the Chicago Suburban Baseball League World Series and he was the Most Valuable Player of the series. 

Back to School

Well, classes have started at the U of I and that can only mean one thing… Fall practice for the baseball team.  They will begin drills next week, 

Also, the dates for the Orange and Blue series have been set.  Mark your calendar for the week of September 24. 

Oh, in case anyone is interested, here is Lars Davis’ profile on Purple Row, a Colorado Rockies blog.

Finally, I notice that former Illini Chris Basak has gotten in a couple games for the Yanks. No at-bats yet, though.

Followup: Shawn Roof, the Illini shortstop who was drafted in the 33rd round by the Tigers is now on the roster of their Rookie League affiliate, the Gulf Coast League Tigers in Lakeland, Florida.

Lars Davis is now on the Tri-City Dust Devils located in Pasco, Washington.

Here’s Fighting Illini.com’s writeup on Roof and Davis making it to pro ball.

Scott Shaw allowed only 3 hits in 7 IP

Scott Shaw was the starting pitcher for Illinois. When Shaw is on his game, he’s a pretty dang good pitcher. And quite honestly, he looked really good Friday. He was fooling hitters and more importantly, keeping them off the basepaths (3 hits and 1 BB in 7 IP).

High fives all around as Lars Davis scores in the 6th inning

Penn State drew first blood in the second scoring a run on a Mike Deese single. It was goose eggs for both teams till the fifth when the Illini put together hits by Brandon Wikoff, Lars Davis, Daniel Webb, and Ryan Hastings. That pushed a pair across, giving the good guys the lead.

In the 8th, all hell broke loose. Shaw who until this time was still going strong, led the inning off with a walk. A throwing error put runners on first and second with no outs. Coach Hartleb then made the call to Jake Toohey.

RF Nick Stockwell under the telling scoreboard

Four hits and one more error later, Penn State had scored 5 runs and put the score at 6-2, the final score.

Penn State’s Matt Ogrodnik who pitched a nearly perfect 3 2/3 innings (just one hit) got the win. Scott Shaw (2 ER in 7 IP and 5 K) who in my opinion pitched quite well, got the loss.

Said Coach Hartleb after the game:

“This is a tough way to end the season, but we have a lot to build on. The older guys on this team have put us in a very favorable position for the coming years, and I really like the young players we have on this team. Our top three starting pitchers have a chance to be very, very good next year.”

For the record, this is the farthest the Illini have gone in the Big Ten Tournament since 2001.

Some photos I took before and during the game are here. Not so much after.