April 1, 2012
Box Score | Highlights (IPHD)
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Illinois softball dropped a heart-breaking 1-0 decision in 10 innings at the University of Iowa's Bob Pearl Field on Sunday afternoon. As the starter in the circle, junior Pepper Gay pitched into the 10th, while sophomore left and center fielder Alex Booker and senior right fielder Nikki Simpson totaled two-hit performances at the plate.
"It was a tough weekend, but what our team and staff saw today from Pepper can be the best lesson on the year to take and use the rest of the way," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said. "Yesterday, Pepper didn't have her stuff, but she always responds the next chance she has, she never gets knocked down or dwells on what she didn't do, she just comes back stronger."
Iowa (14-17 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) ended the contest in the bottom of the 10th with one out on a bases-loaded walk issued to Malloree Grove. Gay set a career-high for innings pitched in a single contest, with 9 1/3 frames on the day, giving up seven hits and eight walks while striking out six Hawkeyes.
"Pepper pitched outstanding today under pressure and we couldn't get a run on the board," Sullivan continued. "The loss hurts, but her guts and performance go beyond the game. We are going to make sure we use this game and the job she did as a motivator to be better, score earlier and be tougher."
Illinois' best extra-innings scoring chance came during the top of the ninth. Redshirt-junior shortstop Jessica Davis reached on a single to center field, but was tagged out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Two batters later, junior catcher Stephanie Cuevas doubled to right-center and freshman second baseman Jami Schkade singled to left field, moving Cuevas to third. After Simpson drew a walk to load the bases, Booker hit into a fielder's choice, with Simpson retired at second for the final out.
The opportunities to score for the Illini continued in the 10th frame. With two out, freshman third baseman Jess Perkins singled to left field and Davis walked to put runners on first and second; however, designated player Jackie Guy popped up to shortstop to end Illinois' final run-scoring threat.
Iowa attempted to end the contest in the bottom of the seventh, putting a pair of runners on base with one away. However, Gay settled in to earn the second out of the frame on a fielder's choice groundout before striking out Michelle Zoeller swinging to send the game to extra innings.
Gay again worked out of a jam in the bottom of the eighth to prolong to contest after loading the bases with one out. After inducing a lineout to first by Megan Blank, three consecutive Hawkeyes reached via walks. However, Gay struck out Brianna Luna swinging and secured a flyout to right field by Melanie Gladden to strand all three runners.
Illinois (16-14, 2-4) twice put runners on first and second early in the contest. Booker led off the game with a single to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior-redshirt utility player Danielle Vaji. Two batters later, Perkins drew a walk; however, Davis popped up to end the top of the first. Two frames later, Simpson and Booker opened the third with back-to-back singles, but were left at their respective bases following a Vaji pop up and strike outs of senior first baseman Meredith Hackett and Perkins.
Illinois' final regulation scoring opportunity came in the top of the seventh inning, when the Orange and Blue advanced a runner to third with one away. Sophomore pinch hitter Jenna Mychko stepped to the plate for Cuevas and reached second on a throwing error by Iowa second baseman Bradi Wall. After Cuevas was re-inserted into the game as the runner at second base, Schkade moved the Sylmar, Calif., native to third with a sacrifice bunt down the first base line. However, Cuevas was stranded there when Simpson fouled out and Booker struck out swinging to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Chelsea Lyon earned the win for Iowa, going 10 innings while allowing nine hits and three walks, striking out seven.
The Orange and Blue return to action with a Wednesday, April 4 contest against Illinois State (20-15) on Eichelberger Field at 6 p.m. CT.
Game Notes: Gay's previous single-game career-high for innings pitched was 9.0 in a 2-0 win at Minnesota on May 13, 2011 ... Playing into the 10th against Iowa marked the longest contest since Illinois defeated Loyola-Chicago, 7-4, in 11 frames on March 24, 2009 - a span of 154 consecutive contests ... Booker has secured at least one hit in nine of the previous 10 games, owning a team-best .438 batting average (14-for-32) since going 2-for-3 against Massachusetts on March 17 to begin the streak.
