May 5, 2008

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Aaron Johnson's two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning was the difference as Illinois posted a 10-9 victory over Northwestern Monday evening at Illinois Field. The win allowed the Fighting Illini to take the series three games to one.

Illinois improves to 28-18 and 14-10 in the Big Ten with the win, while the Wildcats fall to 17-23 and 11-13.

Bo Schultz stifled the Big Ten's top hitting team through the first three innings as he set the first nine batters he faced in order.

The Wildcats finally backed him up with some offense in the top of the fourth as Mike Kalina went the other way for a solo home run, his second of the year, to put NU up 1-0.

Schultz retired the first two batters in the fourth, improving his streak of consecutive batters set down to 11, before Illinois finally got things going. Daniel Webb capped a string of three consecutive singles by driving in the tying run before Ryan Hastings delivered a big blow with a three-run homer. All of a sudden the Fighting Illini led 4-1.

Northwestern took advantage of a costly Illinois error in the top of the fifth to come back and tie the game. With runners on first and second and one out, Jake Owens hit a come-backer to pitcher Scott Shaw. What appeared to be a tailor-made double-play ball resulted in all runners being safe when Shaw's throw to second was errant. Aaron Newman drew a walk to bring home one run, Tommy Finn scored on a wild pitch and Chris Lashmet brought home another with a two-out single to make it 4-4.

The Illini manufactured a run to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Casey McMurray notched his first hit of the series, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a hit by Joe Bonadonna.

Illinois' lead grew to 6-4 in the sixth. The hosts had runners at the corners and one down when Matt Havey came on to relieve Schultz. John Schlichter brought home Aaron Johnson from third when he was able to line a 3-2 pitch into center field. Havey prevented any further damage, keeping the deficit at two.

Much like the fifth inning, errors by the Fighting Illini opened the door for Northwestern to tie the game in the seventh. Owens was at second with no one out when Aaron Newman grounded to short. Wikoff's throw to third was in time to nab Owens, but Schlichter dropped the ball, giving NU runners at the corners with no one out. Jake Goebbert followed with an RBI single to left, bringing the 'Cats to within 6-5.

With the bases loaded, one down and Nate Roberts at the plate, a catcher's interference brought in the tying run. Ben Reeser was able to prevent Northwestern from taking the lead by getting a double-play groundout to escape further trouble.

Havey walked the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh, but was able to work his way out of trouble. Reeser wasn't as fortunate under the same circumstances in the top of the eighth. Free passes to Chad Noble and Finn allowed Owens to move both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Newman then brought home Noble with a run-scoring groundout to short, giving NU a 7-6 lead.

Illinois had two out and nobody on when Schlichter singled to keep the inning alive. Craig Lutes then lofted a high shot to right field that was just deep enough and just inside the foul pole to put Illinois ahead.

However, the Wildcats refused to go down without a fight. With one away, Roberts singled to center and Tony Vercelli was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. Noble then ripped a shot back up the box that scored Roberts with the tying run and advanced Vercelli to third. Finn followed with perfectly executed safety squeeze bunt that plated Vercelli with the go-ahead run.

Havey struck out Kyle Hudson to open the bottom of the ninth and allowed a hit to Bonadonna but promptly picked him off to clear the bases. Wikoff singled to keep the game alive before Johnson hit his fourth homer of the year to give Illinois the walk-off win.

The Wildcats face a quick turnaround as they host Elmhurst (Ill.) at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rocky Miller Park.