Illinois-Chicago Hands Baseball 3-2 Loss – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 24, 2002
Box Score
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Illinois-Chicago capitalized on three base hits and two Ohio State errors to score three runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 3-2 victory over Ohio State on Sunday at the Homestead Challenge at the Homestead Sports Complex.
The Flames (13-3) had just four baserunners until the bottom of the fifth inning when they scored three unearned runs courtesy of three hits and two Ohio State errors. Mike Lorenzo singled and then moved advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Paul Farinacci (Fr. Westlake Village, Calif./Agoura) of a ground ball hit by Nelson Gord. Both runners advanced on throwing error by Joe Wilkins (Sr., Grove City, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) who was trying to pick off Lorenzo at second but threw into centerfield. The Buckeyes got Lorenzo out at third on a grounder by John Rosner who hit a ball toward the pitcher. Lewis walked to load the bases and then Mike Hughes singled to right to score both Gond and Russo. Curtis Granderson followed with a single to right to score Bruszer and give the Flames a 3-1 lead.
Hughes finished the game going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Granderson’s hit in the fifth that scored the winning run was his only hit of the game in a 1-for-4 performance.
Doug Deeds (So., Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) scored in the top of the second inning to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. He outran the throw of a ground ball to the shortstop. Wilkins singled through the middle and then Christian Snavely (So., Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) ran out a bunt to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Doug Larason (So., Alexandria, Ohio/Johnstown) brought Deeds home.
The Buckeyes (10-3-1) got a run back in the eighth after getting three straight singles following a lead off ground out. Doug Dendinger (Sr., Greenwich, Ohio/South Central), Nick Swisher (Jr., Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg) both singled and then Deeds singled to right field to score Dendinger. Ohio State left two runners on base in the inning after Wilkins struck out and Snavely flew out to center.
Deeds and Wilkins both finished the game 2-for-4. Deeds and Larason were responsible for scoring the two runs for Ohio State.
Wes Gilliam got the win for Illinois-Chicago, pitching seven innings and giving up one run off five Buckeye hits. Gilliam fanned nine batters to pick up his third win of the year. Ryan Gehring picked up a save for UIC. Ohio State starter Scott Lewis (Fr., Washington Court House, Ohio/Washington Court House) got the loss evening his record to 2-2.
Ohio State will meet Lafayette at 2:30 p.m. on Monday and will then play Harvard at 7:00 p.m. The Buckeyes close play in the Homestead Challenge on Tuesday with a 6:30 p.m. contest vs. No. 24 Florida International.
