POSTGAME

What an unbelievable finish! The Illini plate three runner in the bottom of the 9th to walk off with a 5-4 win over Ohio State in the first of a pivotal Big Ten series. The 5000+ in attendance today got treated to a heckuva game. Final line score is as follows...

OSU: 4 runs, 8 hits, 2 errors ILL: 5 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors

What a day at Illinois field. These two teams are back at it again tomorrow at 3 PM. And once again we'll have the live blog for you here on dailyillini.com. Also tune into WPGU 107.1 FM tomorrow from 1-3 for our Illini baseball pregame show live from the ballpark.

That's all for tonight...get some rest and get ready for another great day of Illini sports tomorrow!

BOT 9TH

Dittman with a liner right to the third baseman Miller for out #1. Cappetta walks...tying run in Argo to the plate...hang on to your hats! Argo beats out the throw for an infleid single...runners on 1st and 2nd with one down.

Mike Giller pinch hitting...he lines one to second...the go to the bag with it but the throw is off line...everyone's safe...bases JUICED for Bonnadonna.

Bonnadonna with a 2 RBI double...THIS GAME IS TIED!!!

McMurray up with runners on the corners...he rips one to right and ILLINOIS WINS! ILLINOIS WINS! ILLINOIS WINS!. 5-4 your final over Ohio State. And here come the fireworks!

TOP 9TH

John Anderson now pitching for the Illini.

Arp skies it on the infield...caught by Altobelli for the out. A chopper to third by Engle...routine putout for the Illini...two down. Streng with a grounder to 2nd to end the inning.

Do or die time for the Illini...they need 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game alive.

BOT 8TH

Parr whiffs at strike three. One down. Bonnadonna with an infield single. McMurray grounds to the second baseman...they get the out and 2nd but not at 1st...two down. Wikoff with a liner through the six hole...those are the hits he's known for. Two on with two outs. Altobelli with a liner up the middle scoring Bonnadonna...it's now 4-2 OSU with runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Aaaaaand a pitching change...

Johnson grounds out to short to abruptly end the inning.

To the 9th...OSU up 4-2.

TOP 8TH

Kaovanda grounds out to first. Stephens hit in the foot by the pitch. Burkhart with a two run dinger to left...it's now 4-1 Bucks. Miller grounds out. Dew strikes out to end the inning.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth, OSU 4, ILL 1.

BOT 7TH

A remider of events going on tomorrow...WPGU broadcasting live from Illinois field from 1-3 leading up to game two between the Illini baseballers and the Buckeyes. We'll have another live blog for that game here on dailyillini.com. Men's and women's tennis also in action tomorrow at home in NCAA tournament play. Come out to the athletic complex and enjoy the day!

Altobelli flies out to left. Aaron Johnson flies out at the track in center. Dittman with a hit up the middle. Cappetta with a grounder that squeaks through the four hole. Dittman to third. Argo K's to end the inning...Illini squander an opportunity.

To the 8th we go...OSU 2, ILL 1

TOP 7TH

Don't believe me that there's a big crowd here? Take a look... http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/TriValleyVIB/Illini/downsized_0508091916.jpg

OSU now with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 down. Hurley K's and the Illini get out of a jam.

It's time to stretch here at Illinois field...visitors up 2-1.

BOT 6TH

Great weather here tonight at the ballpark. The fans are enjoying a great game so far. Attendance tonight: 5,214...a program record. Unbelievable.

Parr walks. Bonnadonna with a single to right. Prime opportunity here for the Illini. McMurray flies out to left. Wikoff grounds out to first to end the inning.

TOP 6TH

Stephens with a liner off the glove of Altobelli at third that karems into left for a base hit. Burkhart swings and misses at strike three. One down. Miller grounds into a double play to end the inning.

BOT 5TH

Altobelli with a homerun to right to lead things off...and this crowd has come to its feet! Alto's 7th dinger of the season. It's now 2-1 OSU.

Johnson flies out to center for the first out. Dittman K's looking...home plate umpire Dave Condon with a super wide strike zone tonight. Cappetta walks. Argo flies out to end the inning. The dinger by Altobelli may be the spark this team needs. After 5...OSU 2, ILL 1.

TOP 5TH

DI baseball reporter Spencer Turkin filed this report about a popular tradition at Illinois field: http://tinyurl.com/o9lgec

Streng grounds out to third to start things off. One down. Hurley with a sharp grounder to Dittman at first. He steps on the bag for the putout. Kovanda grounds out to third to end the inning.

BOT 4TH

Check out a preview of this weekend's series courtesy of DI baseball reporter Amanda Spizzirri: http://tinyurl.com/qadttl

Bonnadonna flies out to third for uot number one. McMurray K's...Wimmers with some nasty stuff to say the least. Wikoff with a liner back to the pitcher to end the inning.

Fast moving affair here at Illinois field...Illini need to get some offense going.

TOP 4TH

An update from Illini men's tennis...the O & B defeated Western Michigan 4-0 in NCAA tournament opening round play. I'm also being told that the OSU pitcher tonight, Alex Wimmers, threw a no hitter last week vs. Michigan with 14 K's...wow.

Burkhart grounds out to first to begin the inning. Miller walks. Dew with a liner to left center for a sliding double. Miller to third. Arp with a grounder to third...the Illini go home with it to get the out. Runners now on 1st and 2nd. Engle with a groundout to short to end the inning. Illini dodge a bullet.

After three and a half...OSU up 2-0.

BOT 3RD

Great crowd here tonight...could be the biggest of all time. This series could have some big time implications on the conference standings and conference tournament seeds, not to mention the NCAA tournament.

Cappetta flies out in foul territory in right for the first out. Argo flies out to first for out #2. Parr grounds out to short to end the inning.

After three, OSU up a two spot.

TOP 3RD

Hurley strikes out to start the inning. Kovanda flies out to left for out #2. Stephens grounds out to short to end the inning.

After 2 and a half...OSU 2, ILL 0

BOT 2ND

Altobelli strikes out looking Johnson K's Swinging Dittman K's as well for another 1-2-3 inning

TOP 2ND

Mike Davis is now in the box with us as well

Arp flies out to left field to start off the inning Haig K's Engle for the second out Grounder to Parr to end the inning

BOT 1ST

Juice has joined us in the press box

Bonadonna flies out to center McMurray is robbed by 3rd baseman Justin Miller Its a 1-2-3 inning for the illini as Wikoff grounds out to second to end it

TOP 1ST

Juice Williams has just thrown a strike down the heart of the plate to start this one off!

Haig induces a grounder to Parr for the first out of the inning. Kovanda hits one up the middle for the first hit of the game Stephens tags Haig with a two runner homer over the left centerfield wall to give the Buckeyes the 2-0 lead Haig takes it himself for the second out. Miller sqeeks out a single. Drew grounds out to end the inning.

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The Illini baseball team will take to Illinois Field this weekend for a three game series with Ohio State, and the games could have some big postseason implications. First pitch for game one is set for Friday at 6 PM. Check back here shortly before game time for live in-game updates of all the action.