Northwestern Succumbs to Late Illinois Rally, 4-3

5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

May 1, 2010

Site: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Score: Illinois 4, Northwestern 3
Records: NU (17-25, 8-6 Big Ten), Illinois (20-19, 6-8 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Sunday, May 2 -- at Illinois, 3 p.m.

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Northwestern was unable to hold on to a late two-run lead as Illinois rallied for two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to stun the Wildcats 4-3 Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field. Craig Lutes' one-out homer gave the Illini the walk-off victory.

After launching a long home run in his first at-bat Friday night, Chris Lashmet started the top of the second with a ringing double to right-center. He would advance to third on a groundout and then scored on a passed ball by Illinois catcher Adam Davis.

Speaking of home runs, Arby Fields ripped two of them in Friday's series opener and posted seven RBI. His stellar series continued in the second game against the Illini. The freshman singled to lead off the game and then drilled his third round-tripper of the series, a solo shot, in the third to increase Northwestern's lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Eric Jokisch cruised through the Illinois lineup through the first four innings, facing the minimum. The Illini's lone baserunner through the initial four frames came on a leadoff single by Aaron Johnson in the second, but he was doubled off on a flyball to right.

Illinois did take advantage of a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth to cut NU's lead to 2-1. Michael Giller drew the free pass and was at second with two outs when Pete Cappetta singled him home.

Kevin Johnson allowed eight hits by the Wildcats through the first five innings, but retired eight in a row before Paul Snieder came to the plate with two outs in the top of the eighth. Snieder was able to draw a walk and Lashmet brought him all the way around to score with his third hit of the day, a double to the wall in right-center to give Northwestern a two-run cushion.

The tally proved to be huge as the Illini was able to push across two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to tie the game. Illinois loaded the bases with no one out and got a run on a fielder's choice grounder by Christian Cummins and then the tying run on a single by Casey McMurray.

Both teams finally turned to the game over to their bullpens in the ninth. Bryan Roberts came on for Illinois in the top half of the inning and retired Northwestern in order before Snieder came on for the Wildcats in the bottom half. Snieder got a groundout to first for the first out before Lutes homered to right to give the Illini the walk-off win.

Fields and Lashmet paced NU with three hits apiece as the Wildcats owned a 9-6 advantage in the hit column. Jokisch took a no-decision, allowing five hits, three runs and three walks while striking out six in eight innings of work.

The teams conclude their three-game series at 3:05 p.m. Sunday. The contest is being televised live by Big Ten Network.

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