Terre Haute, Ind. -

For the second day in a row, Illinois won one and lost one at the Indiana State University Tournament. The Illini fell to Loyola, 2-1 in eight innings, then came from behind to beat the host Sycamores, 5-3. The games brought Illinois' overall record to 8-12 in its inaugural season.

"I think we played the best we have in any stretch of games this season," said Illinois coach Terri Sullivan.

Senior catcher Kim Hubbard was the story on Sunday. Hubbard combined to go 4 for 6 with two home runs and four runs driven in. Her three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth vs. Indiana State brought Illinois back from a 3-2 deficit and put the Illini ahead by two runs. Hubbard's solo homer in the fifth against Loyola tied the score at 1-1 and helped send the game into extra innings.

"Kim Hubbard was a little frustrated with her bat," noted Sullivan. "We just told her to get back to the basics and the big hits would come."

Freshman Pam Almanza, who emerged from the South Carolina trip as the staff ace, pitched 10 1/3 innings in the two games and picked up the win in game two. Almanza gave up just one earned run and lowered her staff leading earned-run average to 2.52.

"We have confidence in Pam because she throws strikes," Sullivan said. "We believe if our pitchers make hitters put the ball in play, our defense can get the job done."

Illinois fell behind early vs. Loyola. An RBI double by the Ramblers' Aimee Martel made it 1-0 in the first. The run off Almanza was unearned. Almanza responded by retiring 13 of the next 16 batters, including two by strikeout. Illinois had just six hits for the game, but threatened in the fourth. Lindsey Creydt singled and Jenny Floyd doubled, putting runners on second and third with just one out, but a double play got Loyola's Carole Gorecki out of the jam.

Illinois' Laura Cannizzo doubled to lead off the seventh, advanced to third on a passed ball, but was left stranded. A lead off walk by Illinois' Jessica Ceisel (1-1) set up Loyola sophomore Ashley Gibbons' game-winning RBI single in the eighth.

"In our two losses (to Northern Illinois and Loyola), we just couldn't get the hits when we needed them" said Sullivan.

Illinois spotted the opponent the lead in its second game as well. A pair of errors resulted in two Indiana State runs in the first. Illinois responded with a pair of unearned runs in the second, but the Sycamores recaptured the lead with a run in third on Melanie Newnum's RBI single.

Jenny Floyd walked and Heather Black singled ahead of Hubbard in the fourth, setting the stages for the towering blast over the left field fence, whose only doubt was whether or not it would stay fair. It did and Illinois went on to the win.

The Illini return to action this weekend with doubleheaders at Butler (Saturday) and Loyola (Sunday).