March 16, 2007
Illinois-Iowa State Box Score
Illinois-Georgia Southern Box Score
Sacramento, Calif. -
Record temperatures in the mid 80s greeted the Illinois softball team in Sacramento this weekend for the Capital Classic. The Illinois bats matched the temperature in a 9-2 win over Iowa State followed by an 11-0, six-inning triumph over Georgia Southern Friday. Illinois had a combined 20 runs and 25 hits and moves to four games over .500 for the first time this season with a 13-9 record.
Shanna Diller smacked a home run in each game, giving her six for the season and 18 for her career, which ranks third on Illinois' all-time list. Makenzie Smith hit her fifth home run of the year and went 4-for-7 for the day. Lana Armstrong, who entered the game as the team leader in batting, was 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, four RBI and four runs scored, bringing her average to from .415 to .441.
Illinois used a five-run fifth inning to blow open a 4-2 game against Iowa State. Angelena Mexicano led off with a ground rule double to center, then Diller smacked the ball to nearly the same part of the ballpark, this time over the fence to make it 6-2. Starting pitcher Vicky Brown helped her own cause with an RBI single to right and designated player Sydney Lisy also delivered a run scoring single.
From there Brown (8-3) turned up her game, retiring eight in a row at one time and allowing just two base runners after the second inning to record the complete game victory. She also struck out a season-high eight batters. The top three in the Cyclone order went a combined 0-for-10 and No. 4 batter Katie Riechling struck out twice against Brown after leading off the second inning with a solo home run to right.
Illinois got to Iowa State starter Alyssa Ransom early with three runs in the first on a three-run home run from Smith. Following Reichling's homer, Ashley Killeen doubled and Kristen Karanzias singled to make it 3-2. Iowa State (12-21) loaded the bases with one out, but Brown and the Illini worked out of the jam.
In the fourth inning, Molly Lawhead singled home Lana Armstrong, who led off the inning with a double to right center, to make it 4-2 Illinois.
Besides Armstrong, Diller (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI), Smith (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Brown (2-for-3, RBI) and Hope Howell (2-for-4) each had two hits for Illinois against Iowa State.
Against Georgia Southern (10-15), Illinois took advantage of nine walks and three GSU errors to win easily. Diller picked up right where she left off against Iowa State with a solo home run in the first inning. Lisy singled home Smith, who poked a two-out double to make it 2-0 Illinois after one inning.
Illinois added four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and four in the sixth to pull away. The four runs in the fourth came on just two hits as GSU starter Logan Free (5-6) walked four and catcher Jenny Side committed two passed balls. Armstrong and Hope Howell each had two-run home runs in the sixth.
Like Brown, pitcher Ashley Wright (4-5) had a big day in the circle, allowing just three hits and retiring the last 11 she faced, striking out three for the game. The Illini defense had a big day as well with just one error and a .981 fielding percentage.
Illinois meets Idaho State and Pittsburgh in the tournament Saturday.
