Champaign, Ill., May 11, 2002 Penn State split its Big Ten doubleheader at Illinois on Saturday as it defeated the Illini 2-1 in the opener before falling 4-1 in the nightcap.

The start of the doubleheader was delayed 45 minutes due to rain in the Champaign, Ill., area.

With the split Penn State moves to 22-25 overall and 11-15 versus Big Ten opponents while Illinois sits at 29-14 overall and 13-12 in the Big Ten.

Penn State senior hurler Mike Watson (7-3) (Altoona, Pa.), making his first start since April 19 due to an elbow injury, limited Illinois to one run and four hits while striking out 10 over the complete seven innings to lead the Nittany Lions to a 2-1 win in game one. The complete game marked the third time the senior right-hander has gone the distance this season.

Wes Reohr (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) and Clint Eury (Butler, Pa.) led off the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to provide Penn State with the winning margin.

Illinois (28-14, 12-12 Big Ten) used a two-out rally in the bottom of the third to open the game’s scoring. Brandon Cashman got things started for the Illini when he stroked a double down the left field line. Andy Schutzenhofer followed with an RBI single through the right side which plated Cashman and gave Illinois a 1-0 advantage.

Penn State (22-24, 11-14 Big Ten) responded with a single tally in the top of the fourth to knot the game at 1-1. Reohr led off the frame with a walk and followed by swiping second. Following a fly out by Eury, Chris Wright (State College, Pa.) ripped a single to left field which scored Reohr from second. Illinois avoided any further damage in the frame when Illini pitcher Josh Gold enticed Matt Harter (Centre Hall, Pa.) to ground into an inning ending double play.

Watson wiggled out of what could have been a big inning for Illinois in the bottom of the fifth as the Illini loaded the bases with no outs via a single, an error and a walk. Penn State avoided any damage however as Watson retired the next three Illinois hitters in order, ending the inning with a strikeout of Patrick Arlis.

Eury gave Penn State the lead for good in the top of the sixth at 2-1 with a double to right center which scored Reohr from second. Reohr opened the inning with a double down the left field line to set up Eury’s RBI two-bagger.

Josh Gold (2-4) was tagged with the loss for Illinois after allowing two runs, four hits and one walk over the complete seven innings.

Aaron Tressler (State College, Pa.) picked up were Watson left off on the mound for Penn State in the nightcap as he held Illinois scoreless over the first five innings of play while fanning six. The Illini bats woke up in the bottom of the sixth however as they rallied for four runs to claim a 4-1 lead.

The Illini sixth was keyed by a two RBI single by pinch hitter Trevor Fredrickson. Illinois final two runs of the frame came via a bases loaded walk issued by Nittany Lion reliever Tyler Wingerd (Fredrick, Md.) to Vince DiMaria and a RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of T.F. Meagher.

The score held up as Illini pitcher Tim Gorecki finished what he started as he sat down the Nittany Lion in order in the top of the seventh to improve his record to 3-1 on the year.

Gorecki limited the Lions to three hits, only one of which went for extra bases, and struck out five. Tressler (4-3) took the loss for Penn State after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks.

Penn State ole run of the game came when Wright opened the top of the second inning with a single before eventually scoring on a fielder’s choice by John Richmond (Pittsburgh, Pa.), giving Penn State an early 1-0 advantage.

Penn State and Illinois are scheduled to conclude its four-game Big Ten Conference series on Sunday, May 12 beginning at 1:05 p.m. (CT).