April 29, 2000
Box Score
Rochester, Mich. -
Illinois and Oakland University battled down the stretch in each game of their doubleheader at Rochester, Mich. The Illini came from behind to win the first game, 3-1 in eight innings, while Oakland rallied from three runs down to take nightcap, 4-3.
Illinois moves to 13-15 on the season prior to Sunday's season finale at Detroit Mercy.
Freshman pitcher Pam Almanza was the hero of the day for Illinois. Almanza pitched all eight innings of the first game, giving up just four hits and the one run. Almanza no hit the Golden Grizzlies through the first four innings, hitting her spots nicely, striking out two batters and not allowing a ball out of the infield in the first four frames.
Oakland (17-29) tallied a run in the fifth on singles from Keri Sedgley and Crystal Ruddock. Illinois had the bases loaded and nobody out in third, but failed to score. The Illini finally broke through in the sixth. Kim Hofert was hit by a pitch, and then advanced to second when the catcher threw errantly on a pick-off attempt. Lindsey Creydt, who was 3 for 7 with two doubles, two walks and three RBI in the doubleheader, hit a solid shot down the left-field line for a double scoring Hofert from second.
The Golden Grizzlies loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Almanza got Sedgley to bounce into a fielder's choice. Catcher Kim Hubbard made a nice play throwing out the next hitter on a bouncer in front of the plate to end the inning. Almanza allowed just one base runner in the seventh and eighth combined.
Heather Black (3 for 7 on the day) led off the eighth with a single to center and later scored in the inning on a single from Kim Hubbard. Third baseman Jean Jones also scored on the play to give the Illini the two-run cushion.
The Illini looked like they were headed for the sweep in the nightcap. Hot hitting Creydt doubled home Anitra White and Kim Hofert in third inning, then a pair of errors resulted in another run in the third.
The host team spoiled the party for the Illini, however. Corinne Spanke singled home a run in the fourth. Two Illinois errors were critical in a three-run sixth inning for Oakland. Just two balls left the infield in the inning, a sacrifice fly by Ruddock, who picked up the pitching victory, and a two-out single to left by Jennifer Granger, which turned out to be the game winner.
