March 18, 2000
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois women's softball team concluded tournament pool play at the Winthrop Invitational with a 10-2 victory in five innings against the Radford Highlanders this morning in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Illini wasted no time scoring, by putting four runs on the scoreboard in the first inning and knocking two Highlander pitchers. Freshman third baseman Jenny Floyd delivered a two-out single up the middle that scored left fielder Jean Jones and designated hitter Lori Schaeffer to give the Illini a 4-0 lead.
Illinois continued the scoring in the second inning adding two more runs. Right fielder freshman Kim Hofert led off the inning with an infield single. After a stolen base and a wild pitch, second baseman Lindsey Creydt drove Hofert in when shortstop Kelly Hartzog's throw to the plate was not in time. Three batters later senior catcher Kim Hubbard singled home Creydt putting the Illini up 6-0.
Creydt came through again for the Illini in the third inning with a two-out single that scored Hofert and center fielder Gina Pasquesi to move the lead to 8-0. Creydt finished the game with 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
After a Highlander home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Illini put two more runs on the scoreboard in the fifth. Schaeffer and Hubbard each doubled in a run for the Illini, propelling the lead to 10-1.
The Highlanders were able to score one more run off Illinois starter Pam Almanza in the bottom of the fifth, but could not put another runner across the plate and the game ended due to the "No Mercy" rule.
The Illini finished with 13 hits and eight of the nine Illinois starters reaching base in the game. Almanza evened her record at 3-3 on the season. She holds a team-best 2.66 E.R.A. in five starts and seven appearances for the Illini.
The Illini begin single-elimination play this evening at 5:00 p.m. against a yet to be determined opponent from another pool. If the Illini win that game, they will play at 9:00 p.m. in the second round.
