Michigan State University
Illinois
Illinois Snaps Spartans' Winning Streak in Big Ten Opener
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The 25th-ranked Fighting Illini used back-to-back three-run innings to down the Michigan State baseball team, 10-3, in the Big Ten opener on Friday (March 27) in Champaign, Ill. The loss snapped MSU's five-game winning streak.
Illinois grabbed the lead in the first inning when shortstop Brandon Wikoff singled in a pair of runs.
The Spartans were quick to respond in the top of the second as Johnny Lee and Bo Felt reached consecutively to start the inning via a bunt and an error, respectively. Brandon Eckerle then singled in Lee with a single and MSU later tied the game at two off a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Jonathan Roof.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Illinois struck back with a three-run home run from Casey McMurray to give Illinois back the lead, 5-2.
The Fighting Illini did damage again in the bottom of the third with two outs as three consecutive hits drove in three runs to extend their lead to 8-2.
A Jeff Holm sacrifice fly helped the Spartans get one run back in the fifth but a single by Wikoff in the sixth pushed Illinois lead back to six runs.
Starter Nolan Moody went 7.0 innings for the Spartans (7-15, 0-1) and took the loss to fall to 3-3. Illini starter Lee Zerrusen went 6.0 innings earned the win.
The two teams will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday (March 28) at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
