Illinois lose tough pitching duel with Texas State

Texas State 2 Illinois 1

Today’s game was a mirror image of yesterday’s.  Friday Illinois scratched out runs out of nothing.  Today, the hits were there but runs were scarce. 

Illini starting pitcher Mike Stankiewicz pitched a six inning gem allowing six hits and one run.  Unfortunately, the Illinois offense didn’t back him up and when he left the game it was 1-0 Texas State. 

It goose eggs till the to of the eighth when the Illini finally drew blood and tied the game.  John Schlichter doubled home Ryan Hastings who had walked. 

Unfortunately, it was also Schlichter who booted the ball at third base in the bottom of the 9th allowing Spenser Davis to reach base.   One wild pitch later, Bobcat Adam Witek singled him home for the wining run.

The offense obviously wasn’t there today but you gotta feel good about the pitching performances about Mike Stankiewicz and Nick Chmielewski (wild pitch notwithstanding). 

Newbie catcher Aaron Johnson went 3 for 4 though his offensive effort was somewhat wasted with no runs and no rbis.

Tomorrow, it’s another early 9am game against Lamar University Cardinals.

 

Next Game:

Game #3

Sat Feb 24, 9 am

Record: 1-1

vs Lamar

at Edinburgh, Tx

 

 

Opponent: Lamar
Nickname: Cardinals
Conference: Southland Conference
Head Coach: Jim Gilligan (30th year)
Location: Beaumont, Texas
Current Record: 1-1
Baseball Program website: Link
Players to watch: Reliever Tim Erickson who was named to the NCWBA Stopper Watch list. 
Team Facts: Lamar won the Southland Conference East Division in 2007 with a 20-10 record.  Pre-season polls predict the Cardinals to win their division again.

 

This will be the last game of the Al Ogletree Tournament.  After that, the team will be off till next weekend when they play Baylor on the 29th.  

Go Illini!

Update:  Lamar just lost a tough one to Sam Houston State 18-7 this afternoon.  Also, here is FightingIllini.com’s summary of the game.