March 4, 2004

Box Score

Clearwater, Fla. - Illinois started slowly against Western Michigan and could not recover, dropping its first game at the Speedline Invitational 1-0 to the Broncos. The Illini mustered only four hits and committed two errors while dropping to 9-3-1 on the season.

Illinois threatened in the third inning when catcher Janna Sartini knocked a double to the wall in left field. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Katie O'Connell, but was stranded there.

The Broncos scored in the sixth by stringing together a double, a sacrifice bunt and an error by O'Connell.

Sherri Taylor threw 6.1 solid innings for Illinois, allowing one unearned run on seven hits, while striking out five and not issuing a walk. Amanda Fortune finished the game by striking out the final two Broncos hitters in the seventh inning.