Big Ten - Illinois Eliminated

By Courtney Ratkowiak - May 25, 2007

Bottom 9th - Illinois went 1-2-3 last inning, and Penn State did the same in the top of the ninth. Minus the top of the eighth, this game really has been uneventful.

Looking around, there are some Michigan players in attendance. They're no longer in uniform, instead wearing Michigan Baseball t-shirts, but maybe they're just wondering how the team who just knocked them out will fare against the team that they could have played.

Anyway, Shawn Roof just grounded out. One out. And ... Ryan Hastings and Nick Stockwell just flew out to center, one after the other. Three outs, another 1-2-3 inning for Illinois. Story of this game, I guess.

Illinois is eliminated from the Big Ten tournament, and Penn State has now made it through three games in the loser's bracket after losing its first game. The Nittany Lions are fighting hard - and if they fight hard enough tomorrow morning, they'll have a shot at the championship.

Ohio State vs. Minnesota is at 7:05 tonight. This is a big day for baseball at Fisher Stadium, but it sure doesn't look like it - it's obvious that, now that the home team is gone, attendance will be a mere fraction of what it was earlier.