March 2, 2012
Illinois-Florida Atlantic Box Score | Illinois-New Mexico State Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Illinois softball split its Friday doubleheader at the Eller Media Stadium Classic, falling to Florida Atlantic, 8-5, in eight innings before securing a 4-3 win over New Mexico State. Sophomore designated player and catcher Jenna Mychko had a career day at the plate against the Owls, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs on a three-run double and two-RBI single. Senior first baseman Meredith Hackett finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs against the Aggies, while freshman right fielder Jess Perkins scored the decisive run with a fifth inning sacrifice fly out.
"I think again, with this team, the finish today shows how it responds," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said. "It was key for us to score first and score in the first inning [against New Mexico State]. Meredith started out the game with the home run and had a great offensive performance and we needed that from her today. Pepper [Gay] was disappointed in her relief appearance against Florida Atlantic, but she came back and shut down a tough hitting and offensive-minded team in New Mexico State. I think the performance against New Mexico State was key to showing our toughness and our fight to finish today."
Game One: Florida Atlantic 8, Illinois 5 (8 innings)
Florida Atlantic (4-11 overall) scored three times in the top of the eighth inning to create the difference in the contest as the tiebreaker rule placed a runner on second to start the frame. After junior pitcher Jackie Guy allowed an infield single to put Owls on first and second with no one out, Heather Barnes used a sacrifice bunt to move each runner up one back before Carly Speerin popped out to redshirt-junior shortstop Jessica Davis. However, Taylor Fawbush followed with a two-RBI double and Stephanie Call added a run-scoring single to create the difference in the contest and reach the eventual final score, 8-5.
Illinois (7-8) used three runs in the sixth and two more in the bottom of the seventh to tie the contest at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings. Mychko, in her sixth game back from a hand injury, was key in both frames, securing a career-high five RBIs in the process.
Hackett was hit by a pitch as the leadoff batter in the sixth, while a single by Perkins moved Hackett into scoring position. After redshirt-senior second baseman Danielle Vaji drew a walk to load the bases, Mychko delivered a double down the left field line, scoring all three runners to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Down to their final out in the seventh inning, Perkins reached on a fielding error by Call, FAU's first baseman, and Davis singled to left field. After Vaji earned her second walk, Mychko followed with a single through the middle of the infield to tie the game at 5-5 and force extra innings.
"I was seeing that ball really well today and I was just looking for something I could hit hard and on the ground so that I could get the chance to score the runners," Mychko said. "Jackie was pitching well and I just wanted to get a couple runs across for her."
FAU used a two-run fourth inning to take the initial lead. With two outs, Joshlyn Martinez walked and Kimberly Diaz reached on an error by Davis, while Alexa Ballard followed with an RBI-single to break the scoreless tie. Two batters later, pinch hitter Jordan Stovall added the second run-scoring single of the frame to give FAU the 2-0 advantage.
The Owls added a pair of runs in the following inning to extend the lead to 4-0 with a bases loaded walk issued to Ballard followed by Whitley Herb being struck by a pitch. Florida Atlantic scored a fifth run in the top of the sixth on an RBI-double by Call.
Guy totaled 7 1/3 innings of work, allowing seven runs - three earned - on nine hits and three walks while striking out 10 Owls. Junior pitcher Pepper Gay relieved Guy with one away in the fifth inning and a runner on second. Gay issued three walks during the frame, with two runs scoring as a result, while striking out one.
Game Two: Illinois 4, New Mexico State 3
In the second half of Friday's doubleheader, Hackett provided clutch hits early to stake the Illini to a 3-0 lead through three innings. Hackett finished the contest with four base knocks in as many at bats, increasing her season batting average to .425 (17-for-40) in the process.
"Being aggressive at the plate is what really made that game what it was," said Hackett of the contest against New Mexico State. "In the first game today we weren't getting the hits we needed with runners on. We knew we needed to come out against New Mexico State and score early and our goal was to score in first inning. I was just trying to get on base and the ball went out. We needed to get runs on the board early because New Mexico State is a hard hitting team that could hit with us."
In Hackett's initial plate appearance, the Corona, Calif., native produced a solo home run over the left field fence, breaking the scoreless tie in the top of the first inning. Two frames later, Vaji and Davis reached base ahead of Hackett on a pair of costly New Mexico State errors. Hackett followed with a two-run single into center field, scoring Vaji and Davis for the 3-0 advantage.
New Mexico State tallied one run in the fourth inning to cut the Illini lead to 3-1, with an error by freshman center fielder Brittany Sanchez following a base hit allowing the Aggie Tiare Jennings to advance home. However, Gay worked out of the bases loaded jam that followed to maintain the lead, with a strikeout of Tehani Kaaihue four batters later silencing the threat.
The Orange and Blue responded to the NMSU rally attempt immediately, tacking on the crucial fourth run to extend the lead back to three in the top of the fifth. Vaji reached first base safely on an error and advanced to third when Hackett singled two batters later. Perkins followed with a fly out to center field scoring Vaji on the play.
New Mexico State scored twice in the seventh to cut the Illinois advantage to 4-3. With the bases loaded, Malena Padilla singled up the middle to score Jennings and Kristi Covarrubia; however, Gay earned a pop up to first base off Staci Rodriguez's bat to end the game.
Gay went the distance for the Orange and Blue, striking out seven while allowing six hits and three runs, with only two of them earned. With the victory, the 41st of the Avondale Estates, Ga., native's career, Gay is now tied with Sherri Taylor (2001-04) for the fourth-most wins in program history.
Alex Newman started for New Mexico State, going two innings while allowing three runs before Karysta Donisthorpe replaced Newman. Donisthorpe tossed three frames, giving up the fourth Illinois run before Celisha Walker finished the final two innings.
Illinois continues its season with a Saturday doubleheader against UNLV (7-7) and Seton Hall (3-6). The Illini face the Pirates at 3:30 p.m. CT before battling the host-Rebels at 8 p.m. CT.
