April 24, 2007

Game 1 Stats
Game 2 Stats

Charleston, Ill. - Brittany Koester's ninth-inning two-run home run proved to be the game winner in Illinois' 5-3 victory over Eastern Illinois Tuesday in Charleston. The victory salvaged a split with the Panthers, who won the opener, 9-4.

Illinois (29-19) managed just eight hits for the doubleheader, but the Illini made them count with three home runs and a double, giving the Illini a nation's best 81 roundtrippers for the season. In game two, Angelena Mexicano delivered her 16th home run of the season, leading off the third inning. That tied Shanna Diller for the team lead and the school's single-season record.

After EIU took the lead with two runs in the third, Kisten Martin delivered a two-run double to deep center that nearly left the ballpark in the fifth. That shot gave Illinois a 3-2 lead.

Two great throws were instrumental in holding the Panthers in check. Angelena Mexicano and Sarah Bryers threw runners out trying to score in the fourth with Koester applying the tag both times.

Freshman Christine Christopoulos made her first collegiate start in game two, striking out four in four innings of work, including the first two batters she faced.

Freshman Vicky Brown relieved Christopoulos in the fifth inning and allowed just one hit and four base runners in five innings. Only three balls left in infield against Brown (16-6). The Panthers tied the game with a pair of walks, an infield single and an Illinois error in the bottom of the seventh, but Brown was strong in extra innings, giving her teammates a chance to pull out the win.

EIU (20-26) out-hit Illinois 9-5 in the opener. The Panthers scored two runs in the first and three more in the second to bolt to a 5-2 lead. A two-out, two run single from Lana Armstrong accounted for Illinois' two runs.

The Illini, who have had the propensity for late-inning comebacks did just that. Armstrong's two-run home run, her 14th of the season, cut the margin to 5-4. The four RBI in the opener give the sophomore catcher 50 for the season, establishing a new Illinois record.

Eastern Illinois, however, scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning to take a comfortable 9-4 advantage. Sandyn Short's base clearing three-run double provided the big blow. Short tied a career high with five RBI for the game.

Illinois is scheduled to face Western Illinois in a single game Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Eichelberger Field.