Today’s game had to be a tough one to lose. After a roller coaster battle, Illinois came up on the short end of the stick and lost to Bucknell 8-7 in the first game of their Spring trip.
Despite being down 5-1 by the top of third, Illinois rallied and came back to tie it 6-6, thanks in part to a two-run double by Mike Giller. Both teams put a run across to make it 7-7 by the sixth and it stayed that way till the eighth when Bucknell scored a the winning run via a fielder’s choice.
Yes, it was a tough game for the bullpen because quite honestly they deserved to get a win out of this. Brian de la Torriente (left) pitched two scoreless innings before putting giving up a bunt single that eventually scored. The inning before, the Illini got in trouble with the bases loaded due to a couple errors but “de la” did a great job getting out of the jam.
But this one wasn’t in the cards for the Illini. Had the game gone an extra inning or two, I’ll betcha the good guys would have scored the couple runs they needed. It was just that kind of game.
By the numbers |
|
|---|---|
| 4 | Number of runs scored by Willie Argo today |
| 8/4 | Ratio of walks to strikeouts by Illini batters today. Going into today’s game, In contrast, Illini batters have walked 35 times and struck out 83 times this season |
| 23 | Number of HBP by Illinois pitchers this season. |
Despite the loss, Willie Argo continued his hot streak. He pretty much did it all. Argo went 3 for 3 and scored four of Illinois’ seven runs. He hit a double and even stole two bases and drew a walk. Mike Giller and Brandon Hohl both drove in two runs.
Next up
Tomorrow is another day and Illinois will face the Zips of Akron University. It’s a morning game at 10am.
Random Ramblings
Lee Zerrusen has put up Diamond Notes #4 and gives us a preview of the Spring Trip. I’m enjoying what Big Z writes. Maybe I’ll see if he’ll write a guest post for the IBR, eh?
Speaking of Zerrusen, the campus paper, the Daily Illini has a really good article on him. They quote him extensively and bill him as the Illini pitcher that will “fill any role”.
Let’s go Illini!!!