Feb. 11, 2001
Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, TX - The University of Illinois women's softball team concluded play in the McKenzie Valentine Classic Tournament with a 9-2 win over Sam Houston State, late Saturday evening. Illinois went 6-0 in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 56-4, including four shutouts.
"One of our goals coming into this season was to win some tournaments and it was nice to see us accomplish it in the first one we played in this season," said Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan. "We played well in some tough conditions and our team showed great focus and determination against Sam Houston State in what was the championship game. We have a long way to go but it was nice to finally play and put some runs on the board."
Karyn Bird finished 3-for-3 with 1 RBI and Kathryn Nevard notched her fourth victory in as many appearances as the Illini never trailed against the Bearkats. Erin Jones also hit 3-for-4 with 1 RBI and Janna Sartini was 2-for-4 as Illinois knocked the Bearkat pitchers for 13 hits.
Illinois got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs off Sam Houston State starter Mary Bogdanov. After a leadoff walk to Erin Montgomery and a bunt single by Erin Jones, shortstop Lindsey Hamma singled to left field to give the Illini a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Illinois increased its lead to 2-0 after an error by the Bearkats third baseman scored Hamma.
Kristie Sauter drilled a two-run homer over the center field wall in the bottom of the second inning to extend Illinois' lead to 4-0.
The Bearkats fought back in the top of the third inning as Ashlye Hylton knocked a two-run home run to cut the lead to 4-2. It was the first two runs that Kathryn Nevard had given up this season.
However, the Illini answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring two more runs. With two outs and Montgomery on second, catcher Janna Sartini ripped a single to right field extending Illinois' lead to three. With Sartini on second, Alicia Hammel continued the two-out hitting with a single to center that increased the lead to 6-2.
Illinois scored two more runs in the fifth inning as Erin Jones and Lindsey Hamma each knocked in a run and Illinois finished the scoring in the sixth as Bird knocked in Sartini on a one-out single to right field.
Illinois will next play in the Triangle Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Friday, Feb. 16 at noon against Tennessee.
