Rhodes drives UI to win

   CHAMPAIGN  Dusty Rhodes raised his confidence level as well as his batting average in the weekend series against Michigan State.

   "I don''t think I''ve ever had a series like this," the University of Illinois junior centerfielder said Sunday after stoking three hits and driving in two runs in a 10-5 victory over the Spartans.

   "The confidence really comes when you hit hard line drives like I have in this series."

   It doesn''t hurt the batting average either.

   Rhodes was 9-of-13 to raise his to a team-leading average to .412 as the Illini opened Big Ten Conference play with three wins in the four games with the Spartans at Illinois Field.

   "I''ve shortened my stance a little," Rhodes said, "and my swing seems more compact. I had a pretty good average (.345) before this series, but a lot of my hits were nubbers in the infield where I utilized my speed.

   "I''m also being more patient. I feel like I actually had some at bats this weekend. I looked at some pitches rather than hitting the first or second pitch."

   Rhodes drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left Sunday as the Illini scored twice in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie.

   He had another run-scoring single in the eighth as the Illini scored four more as freshman left-hander Tim Avery recorded his first Big Ten Conference win with relief help from Brian Funk.

   Funk induced MSU''s Shane Johnson to hit into a third-to-second to first double play on his first pitch after replacing Lavery with one run in and one out in the top of the eighth.

   "I jammed him with a fastball that tailed in," Funk said. "The double play seemed to give the hitters a lift. They get the runs (4) to give me a cushion that allows me to put a couple of guys on in the ninth without being in any danger. Our offense did it all weekend."

   Illini coach Itch Jones also gave credit to eighth and ninth hitters Jon Anderson and Joe Sprengard as well as the pitching of Lavery and Funk.

   "Anderson did a good job of getting on base," Jones said, "and Sprengard moved him up to set things up for hitters like (Craig) Marquie, (Aaron) Nieckula and Dusty.

   "Lavery gives us seven innings even though he hasn''t been out for practice all week. Then Funk comes in and gets the double-play ball. It was a nice pickup by (Jon) Hall at first base as well to complete the double play."

   Lavery is taking a few well-earned days off this week before returning to his duties as both a pitcher and a quarterback on the football team.

   "We''re off this week (spring break) in football," Lavery said. "Coach Jones gave me the week off so I''m going home (Naperville) for a few days.

   "I''m looking to be just a Sunday pitcher until the end of (spring) football practice. My body got a little tired at the end. Still I''ll take a win any way I can get it."

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