URBANA, IL ? The Indiana State Sycamores suffered their first loss to a Big Ten team in the Lindsay Meggs era on Wednesday as the University of Illinois Fighting Illini posted a 15-4 win at Illinois Field.
The Sycamores fell behind 12-0 after five innings as the Illini plated seven in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Indiana State broke in to the scoring column in the sixth on a Nick Ciolli two-out, two-run home run over the left centerfield fence which followed a walk to Chris Schmidt.
Two more came across in the seventh. David Brumagin and Zane Chavez hit back to back singles to open the inning with Andrew Trepel getting a walk to load the bases and Ryan Strausborger also getting a free pass which forced Brumagin in. Gary King then hit into a double play but Chavez was able to score ISU's second run of the inning.
Illinois added a run in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth enroute to the victory.
Indiana State had four runs on seven but committed five costly errors in the game. Zane Chavez came in off the bench late in the game and finished with two singles in two appearances at the plate while Nick Ciolli had a home run and a single and David Brumagin two singles. Brady Shoemaker had ISU's other hit, a single the sixth inning.
Illinois scored 15 runs on 14 hits. The Sycamores used six pitchers in the game with Matt Shelton getting the start. Clay Kovac took over in the third but did not make it out of the inning with Brian Oliver taking over with two outs. Micah Spencer worked the fifth, Brendon Smith the sixth and seventh innings, and Josh Varno the eighth. Kovac (1-2) was charged with the loss.
Indiana State, 5-13 overall, will travel to Bradley University this weekend for their second Missouri Valley Conference series of the season. The Sycamores were 1-2 at Southern Illinois University last weekend, dropping the first two games but winning the final game last Sunday.
