Midweek problems continue for Illini baseball in loss at St. Louis

By Peter Zervakis

The midweek woes continued for the Illinois baseball team Tuesday night, as the Illini lost 11-10 at St. Louis. The Illini (23-12), who have gone 4-2 in their last two weekends, have lost their last three weeknight contests.

“During the week, it’s almost like we’ve been hitting a wall,” said junior catcher Aaron Johnson.

Seven total pitchers saw time on the mound for the Illini, though sophomore Lee Zerrusen got the official start. Freshman Will Strack pitched a solid two innings and gave up no runs, while fellow freshman Bryan Roberts, who gave up five runs in pitching the fourth and fifth innings, was charged with his second loss of the year.

“We, myself included, struggled early in the counts tonight,” Roberts said. “We just were throwing too many balls and weren’t getting ahead and … me personally, I would try to get back in the count and leave balls up.”

Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said his team’s pitching staff struggled as a whole, despite the fact that Roberts was the only one who was tagged with a loss.

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“We just didn’t throw very well tonight,” Hartleb said. “We had some pitchers walk guys … hit guys … and give up big hits.”

The Billikens (21-20) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, which was an inning highlighted by a two-run triple from freshman third baseman Zach Miller. But the Illini responded in the second when a single by second baseman Josh Parr drove in both sophomore Matt Dittman and senior Dominic Altobelli. Parr, a freshman, batted 2-for-4 with three RBIs on the night. But he said individual performances do not mean much when the outcome is a loss.

“The defense and the pitchers need to get on the same page,” Parr said. “We need to start bringing more intensity in these midweek games.”

Illinois would tie things up at four in the top of the fourth behind singles from Parr and senior center fielder Joe Bonadonna, but St. Louis would then regain the lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by junior first baseman Danny Brock. A double by Billiken freshman designated hitter Jerry Mancuso then started a three-run rally in the fifth to make the score 9-4.

Illinois sophomore Casey McMurray singled in the sixth to bring the Orange and Blue within 9-5, but Miller would then drive in another score, and the Billikens led 11-5 after seven. Miller finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and junior catcher Ben Braaten also had a solid day for SLU, batting 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Hartleb said he knows his pitching staff is capable of better play.

“We’re capable of pitching well, and we have,” Hartleb said. “Guys just have to do their job.”

The Illini put two more runs on the board in the eighth with a double from junior shortstop Brandon Wikoff and a single by Altobelli, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI on the evening. Illinois then rallied for three in the top of the ninth behind a double from sophomore pinch hitter Daniel Parker, but junior reliever Bryant Cotton was able to close the show for the Billikens. Parr said Illinois’ late-game rally was one positive thing the squad hopes to take away from the loss.

“We kept our composure,” Parr said. “In the ninth we came back and got some runs.”

SLU starting pitcher Andrew Buckham, a sophomore, went 5 and 2/3 innings in picking up the win.