April 17, 2007

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - The fans at Eichelberger Field were featured to an entertaining game between two of the nation's top offenses. In the end, Illinois State delivered the final blow. The 18th-ranked Redbirds scored three runs in the top of the seventh to complete a 10-7 victory over Illinois.

Illinois entered the game number one nationally in home runs, while Illinois State was also in the top ten. The teams continued to use the long ball, combining for five roundtrippers in the game.

Three Illinois players are in a friendly battle for the team lead in home runs. Shanna Diller hit her 14th home run vs. Michigan Sunday. Catcher Lana Armstrong closed the gap with her 13th homer, a two-run shut off the scoreboard in the second inning vs. ISU

The Redbirds' Jackie Williams hit a solo shot in the top of the third to cut the gap in half. The Illini's Angelena Mexicano hit a two-run blast in the fourth, her 14th of the year, with Molly Lawhead, who led off with a bunt single, aboard to make it 4-1.

Illinois left two runners on base, however, in the second, third and fifth innings. Illini starter Vicky Brown, meanwhile, pitched a solid four innings against a strong-hitting ISU team, giving up just three hits in the first three innings, while retiring the side twice.

"Offense is our nature in games, but ISU does that as well," Sullivan said. "We scored early and sat on that for a little bit and didn't have productively with runners in scoring position. It ended up hurting us."

A lead-off walk in the fifth ended up costing Brown and the Illini. Williams hit a two-run shot, to cut the Illinois lead to 4-3 and helping ignite a five-run inning. Tiffany Prager joined the parade with a two-run shot of her own to right center and another run scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4 ISU.

After Illinois State added an earned run in the sixth, the Illini finally was able to turn base runners into more runs. Makenzie Smith hit a base clearing double to right center, scoring three runs and tying the score at 7-7.

Illinois State didn't waste time in regaining the advantage. A lead-off double from Tiffany Warning ignited a three-run seventh inning rally. Kaprice Williams' seeing eye two-run single was the big blow.

The Redbirds out-hit the Illini, 11-10. Smith (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Mexicano (2-for-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs) and Kisten Martin (2-for-4), each had two hits for Illinois.

"We had parts working at times for us tonight," Sullivan said. "But against a top-20 team, you have to have more than just parts in a given moment."

Illinois returns to action Friday, hosting first-place Ohio State at 6 p.m. at Eichelberger Field.