Illini chop Sycamores
Illinois takes win with more great pitching, this time from Dickinson

by Nick Povalitis
Daily Illini sports reporter

Heather A. Grotto The Daily Illini

Heather A. Grotto The Daily Illini Teammates watch as catcher Luke Simmons awaits a pitch during the game against Indiana State Wednesday at Illinois Field.

Things were different for the Illinois baseball team Wednesday night at Illinois Field. Unlike Tuesday's game, in which the Illini faltered in the late innings against Illinois State, the team came on in the final innings to upend Indiana State 8-2.

With the win, the Illini improved to 24-10 on the season, and sophomore pitcher Andy Dickinson (4-1) picked up his fourth victory.

The Sycamores (15-20-1) scored early against Dickinson, thanks to a RBI double by first baseman Dustin James.

The Illini were able to strike back without a hit in the bottom of the second inning. An error at first on junior outfielder Rob Fischer's grounder allowed two runs to score, giving the Illini a 2-1 lead.

Sycamore shortstop Clint Barnes tied the game in the top of the fifth when he doubled to center field to score Chris Hall.

Illinois was able to break the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning, when three Illini runs crossed the plate. Another overthrow at first base allowed the Illini to score - this time on a grounder from junior shortstop Chris Basak. Junior Brady Ballard followed with a two-run homer to left-center field to run the score to 5-2.

"Getting four runs in the fifth really set them back," Ballard said. "After then we had a steady pace in our offense."

Pitching with the four-run lead, Dickinson retired five of the six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings. Illini freshman catcher Patrick Arlis gunned down Indiana State freshman Chris Hall, who attempted to steal second, for the final out of the seventh.

After leaving four runners on base in the sixth and seventh, Illinois added two insurance runs in the eighth. Arlis led off the inning with a single, his first collegiate hit. Junior shortstop Chris Basak reached first on an error, advancing Arlis to third. Senior second baseman D.J. Svihlik drove in Arlis with a sacrifice fly to center. Freshman first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer doubled down the right field line, scoring Basak from second, and Illinois led 8-2.

Dickinson's pitching dashed any hopes of a Sycamore ninth-inning rally, retiring all three of Indiana State's batters.