Feb. 11, 2001
Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, TX - Amidst chilly weather and blistering winds the Illinois women's softball team continued its dominance of the McKenzie Valentine Classic Tournament, garnering two wins this afternoon vs. Buffalo and Texas Southern. The Illini are now 5-0 in the tournament and on the season, and will play Sam Houston State at approximately 9 p.m. to conclude tournament play. The Illini have outscored their opponents 49-2 in five games, and have shutout four of the five teams.
Kristie Sauter was 1-for-1 with two runs batted in and one run scored, and Kathryn Nevard came in for relief to notch her third victory of the season, as Illinois defeated Buffalo 6-2.
The bottom of the fifth inning proved to be decisive, as Illinois broke a 2-2 tie with four runs off Buffalo reliever Heather Robbins. With one out and the bases loaded left fielder Kristie Sauter laced a single into right field that scored Janna Sartini and Katie O'Connell to give the Illini a 4-2 lead. Karyn Bird continued the offensive jolt for the Illini with an RBI sacrifice fly bringing Alicia Hammel home and extending the lead to three. With two outs Megan Watson hit a single to center that scored Sauter and pushed the Illinois lead to 6-2.
Illinois first got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. After a lead-off walk to Erin Montgomery and an Erin Jones sacrifice, shortstop Lindsey Hamma ripped a single into left field giving the Illini a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Alicia Hammel knocked in Hamma on a fielder's choice, as Buffalo caught Katie O'Connell in a rundown between second and third base. Hamma was able to score before O'Connell was tagged out to give Illinois a 2-0 lead.
Illinois finally had a streak of 24 consecutive innings, without an opponent scoring a run, broke in the fourth inning as Buffalo centerfielder Breanne Nasti knocked a home run over the center field wall to cut the deficit to 2-1. After a double by Buffalo third baseman Kelly Malone, Buffalo left fielder Amanda Round singled to right field to tie the game at 2-2. However, in relief of Illinois starter Amanda Fortune, Nevard was able to retire the next three Buffalo batters to maintain a 2-2 tie.
In the Illini's second game, two eight-run innings gave Illinois starter Shannon Lindgren all the room she needed, as the Illini routed Texas Southern 20-0 in five innings. The Illini scored eight runs in both the third and fifth inning and allowed only one hit to the Tigers.
In three innings of work, Lindgren yielded no hits, allowed only three walks and struck out six batters in her first appearance of the season. Lindgren also helped herself out at the plate batting 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and three runs scored.
Shortstop Lindsey Hamma batted 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and center fielder Erin Montgomery batted 2-for-3 with two RBI, as every Illinois batter garnered a hit. First baseman Alicia Hammel also notched her first homerun of the season over the right center wall in the fifth inning as the Illini pounded 20 hits on Tiger pitching.
