STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (May 11, 2003) - Two pitchers combined to throw nine innings of five-hit ball to help the Penn State baseball team inch closer to a Big Ten playoff spot with a 2-0 win over Illinois on senior day Sunday at Beaver Field.

The Nittany Lions, who improved to 23-24 overall and 15-13 in the Big Ten, took three out of four in the series and could clinch a spot in the six-team tournament field for the first time since 2001 with one conference win or two Purdue losses. Penn State will travel to East Lansing, Mich. for a four-game set with Michigan State next weekend while the Boilermakers have three games remaining against Indiana Sunday and Monday and a four-game series versus Michigan in West Lafayette, Ind. next weekend.

The Fighting Illini, who fell to 25-24 overall and 10-17 in the Big Ten, dropped 4 1/2 games behind the Nittany Lions in the standings with four games remaining. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue will battle for the sixth and final playoff spot.

Junior Jared Hopewell (Watsontown, Pa.) received a rare Big Ten start and handled the playoff pressure with ease. He gave up just five hits, struck out two and walked two over 5.1 innings. Junior Clayton Hamilton (Beaver Falls, Pa.) pitched 3.2 innings of hitless ball for his first save. Overall, Penn State held the Fighting Illini to six runs, one unearned, and a .223 batting average over 32 innings for a 1.41 ERA.

Sophomore Clint Eury (Butler, Pa.) completed a stellar series with a 4-for-4 day, including a two-out solo home run, his second of the season, that gave Penn State a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Eury went 9-for-13 in the series with three runs scored, three doubles, a homer and two RBI. He also picked up a save in a perfect inning of relief in Friday's 4-1 victory.

The Nittany Lions added an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI single by freshman Lance Thompson (Houtzdale, Pa.) that plated freshman Derrick Barr (So. Williamsport, Pa.). Barr, junior Matt Harter (Centre Hall, Pa.) and senior Willie Melendez (Cayey, P.R.) had two hits each.

Penn State, which is 12-5 since Apr. 18, will complete an 11-game homestand in its final 2003 game at Beaver Field 3:00 p.m. Tuesday versus Villanova. The game will be carried live by ESPN Radio WMAJ 1450 AM and a link to listen will be available at www.GoPSUsports.com.