Tournament Day One: Blowouts Are The Norm

The Big Ten Tournament opened with Tanner Roark leading the University of Illinois to a 12-3 win over the University of Iowa. Roark tossed a complete game nine hitter. The Illini righthander was aided by five doubleplays. Everytime the Hawkeyes appear to be mounting a comeback, a doubleplay ended their hopes.

Mike Rohde drove in three to lead Illinois. Daniel Webb, Shawn Roof and Nick Stockwell had two RBI a piece. All-Conference OF Travis Sweet led the counter attack with three hits and two RBI for Iowa.

Game two saw Ohio State score three in the first, two in the second and one each in the third and fourth and cruise to a 10-3 over Penn State. Cory Luebke, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, looked a like a Pitcher of the Year. The OSU lefty gave up three hits, three walks and no runs over seven innings. The Buckeyes seventeen hit attack was led by Jacob Howell, Matt Angle and Tony Kennedy with three hits a piece. J.B. Shuck had three RBI.

Brian Ernst and Matt Cavagnaro each had two hits for Penn State.

Iowa and Penn State will meet at 12:05 pm tomorrow in the first elimination game of the tournament. The second game of the day will see Illinois take on Minnesota at 3:35 pm. The finale is scheduled for 7:05 pm and is match-up of Ohio State versus Michigan.

The weather tomorrow is supposed to be warm and sunny. A near record high is on tap. Although, the scoreboard at The Fish indicated it hit 100 degrees today. That's going to be hard to top.