Feb. 10, 2001

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Playing for the first time this season, the University of Illinois women's softball team shutout Buffalo and Texas Southern in their first two games of the McKenzie Valentine Classic Tournament at Sam Houston State.

Behind a two-hitter by Kathryn Nevard, the Illini opened up the tournament with a win vs. the University of Buffalo, 6-0.

Nevard threw seven shutout innings, limiting Buffalo to scattered singles and did not allow a Buffalo runner past first base. Nevard also set an Illinois softball record, with seven strikeouts in the game.

The big hit for Illinois came in the top of the seventh inning, with Illinois up 3-0. With two runners on base, Janna Sartini hit a three-run homerun, to seal the Illini victory. Sartini's blast carried over the left field wall and was her first hit of the season.

Illinois broke the game open in the second inning of play, crossing the plate two times. After Amanda Fortune walked to open the inning, pinch runner Kristie Sauter scored off an error by Buffalo to give the Illini a 1-0 lead. Center fielder Erin Montgomery continued the inning for the Illini, ripping a double into center field scoring Meghan Watson and giving the Illini a 2-0 lead.

Illinois moved their lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning as left fielder Karyn Bird knocked in first baseman Alicia Hammel, after a Hammel stolen base.

In their second game of the tournament, Illinois hurler Amanda Fortune threw a second consecutive shutout for the Illini and Erin Montgomery launched the first grand slam in Illinois history, leading to a 9-0 romp of Texas Southern in five innings.

Montgomery was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI's and third baseman Katie O'Connell batted 1-for-3 with three RBI's.

The Illini got on the scoreboard right away in the top of the first, putting four runs on the Tigers starting pitcher Jennifer Chandler. After loading the bases with no outs, catcher Janna Sartini continued her hot bat with a single that scored Montgomery. With a 1-0 lead, Katie O'Connell drove in two more runs for the Illini off a fielder's choice. First baseman Alicia Hammel extended Illinois' lead to 4-0, with a single that scored O'Connell.

Illinois put another run on the board in the top of the second as Katie O'Connell knocked in her third run of the game, with a single up the middle, scoring third baseman Erin Jones.

With a 5-0 lead, Fortune had all the room she needed as she shut down the Tigers, allowing only three hits. Fortune finished the game with six strikeouts in five innings.

Illinois will finish up the round-robin play this evening at 8 p.m. vs. Sam Houston State and will play three games against the same opponents tomorrow.