April 14, 2006

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - Just five days earlier, pitcher Claire DeVreese completed her first seven-inning shutout of her career. Since then the sophomore is starting to back up those performances. On Friday, DeVreese (14-12) gave up just six hits and one run while striking out five in a 5-1 Illini victory over Purdue in front of 380 fans at Eichelberger Field.

"We've preached consistency to the pitchers all year," Sullivan said. "They have a heck of a schedule thrown out them. If you're strong minded, you improve upon weakness and play in the moment all the time. That's what we're starting to see from Claire."

The win coupled with a loss by Indiana puts Illinois (18-23, 4-5) in sole possession of sixth place in the Big Ten, a game ahead of the Boilermakers (25-23, 3-6) and Hoosiers (3-6), and just a game behind Iowa (4-3) for fifth in the league. The win was also the third in a row for Illinois in Big Ten play.

"We knew going in that this was going to be a critical week for us," Sullivan said. "We obviously have to be at our best, but that makes it fun."

After Tricia Lilley's double scored Tiffany Krcelich to put Purdue up 1-0 in the top of the first inning, DeVreese and the Illini defense buckled down to close the door from there. Mexicano threw out a runner trying to steal home on a double steal with catcher Brittany Koester applying the tag to help Illinois get out of a potential jam in the fifth.

Mexicano was once again the hitting star. Her bases loaded single drove home Courtney Hoogeveen and Rachelle Coriddi to give Illinois the lead for good at 2-1 in the third. Mexicano came into the week 20th in the nation in RBI, and with her two RBI Friday ties the Illinois single-season record of 43 set last year by Jenna Hall. She also now has a Big Ten leading 18 runs driven in during conference play.

"Angelena is a really skilled softball player, "Sullivan said "She is going to continue to do great things because she has an incredible work ethic. She is the emotional leader of our team because she loves to play the game so much."

The Illini weren't done in the third, scoring three more runs and taking advantage of two Purdue errors. Junior Molly Lawhead (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) doubled home Shanna Diller to make it 5-1.

Purdue starter Brooke Baker (13-12) walked two batters in the inning, including Jenna Hall who entered the game as the nation's leader in walks. On Friday she extended that lead with a trio of bases on balls to give her 41 for the year and also reached on a hit batsman.

The game was delayed 30 minutes by lightning. The Illini and Boilers wrap up the two-game series Saturday at noon.