March 5, 2004

Box Score

Clearwater, Fla. - Amanda Fortune gave up only two hits and two walks while holding Villanova scoreless and striking out four Wildcats to lift Illinois to a 6-0 win.

Rachelle Coriddi shone at the plate for the Illini, finishing 4-for-4 with two runs and three stolen bases, a single-game Illini record.

Erin Jones added two hits and two RBI, including a two-out RBI double that scored Molly Lawhead in the fourth inning.

Lawhead had doubled two batters earlier - the first extra-base hit of her career - and her run gave Illinois a 1-0 lead.

The Illini scored again in the fifth, when Janna Sartini singled to left field. Following Hamma's sacrifice that advanced pinch runner Elene Planinsek to second, Planinsek moved to third on Coriddi's single.

Coriddi stole second then Jenna Hall's base hit scored Planinsek and moved Coriddi to third. Sarah Baumgartner pinch ran for Hall, and stole second. The throw challenging Baumgartner's steal got away from the shortstop and Coriddi scored, giving Illinois a 3-0 advantage.

The Illini's next run came in the sixth when LeeAnn Butcher drew a one-out walk. She stole second and scored on Jones' single down the right field line, increasing Illinois' lead to 4-0.

The Orange and Blue added two more runs in the seventh after Coriddi led off the inning with her fourth base hit of the game. She then stole second and scored one out later when Montgomery singled to left field.

Montgomery advanced to second on the throw to the plate, and moved to third on Lawhead's groundout. Butcher walked once more then stole second. Montgomery then scored on a wild pitch by Villanova pitcher Tiffany Ross, giving Illinois its final 6-0 margin.