Feb. 18, 2001
Box Score
Feb. 18, 2001
Chapel Hill, N.C. -
Illinois 4 Youngstown State 2
In their first of three games, the Illinois women's softball team defeated Youngstown State, 4-2.
"Our team was pretty anxious to play after only one game yesterday and I think that showed when we scored some runs early setting the tone for the game," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "We played good defense and scored enough to win the game."
Following her no-hitter from yesterday afternoon, Illinois hurler Kathryn Nevard struck out eight batters and yielded only four hits and no walks, bumping her record to 6-1 on the season.
The Illini didn't waste any time, scoring three runs in the first inning. Erin Montgomery opened the bottom of the first inning with a double, and Erin Jones hit a single to right field giving the Illini runners on first and third. With no outs, shortstop Lindsey Hamma lined a single into right field to score Montgomery and advanced to second on the throw. After a passed ball scored Jones, Illinois catcher Janna Sartini singled to left field to score Hamma and extend the Illini lead to 3-0.
Illinois wasn't done there, scoring another run in the second inning. With one out, Meghan Watson got on base after an error by the YSU third baseman. After a passed ball and a single by Montgomery, Erin Jones knocked a fly ball into center field to score Watson, bringing the Illinois lead to 4-0.
Youngstown State fought back in the fourth inning with two runs to cut the deficit. With runners on first and second, Amanda Berry doubled to right to score both runners and move the lead to 4-2. With a runner on second and no outs, Nevard was able to set down the next three Penguin hitters, including two on strikeouts.
However, the Illini lead wasn't threatened again as Nevard retired nine of the next ten batters to seal the victory.
Illinois 4, Miami, Ohio 1
Behind a solid pitching performance by
Amanda Fortune, the Illinois women's softball team defeated Miami (OH) University, 4-1. With the win the Illini advance to the finals of the Bronze Flight of the Triangle Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Erin Montgomery was 2 for 4 with a home run a two RBI, and Janna Sartini finished 3-for-3 with one RBI as the Illini knocked out nine hits against the Redhawks. Fortune limited the Redhawks to four hits as the Illini never trailed.
Sartini got things going for the Illini in the first inning. Sartini knocked a double over the left fielder's head to score Erin Jones from second and give Illinois a 1-0 lead. The Illini extended their lead to 2-0 in the third as Lindsey Hamma's one-out infield single scored Montgomery.
Illinois increased its lead to four runs when Montgomery knocked a two-run homer over the left field fence with Kim Hubbard on base.
Miami was able to plate one run in the sixth when Kristie Mortaloni knocked an RBI single to left.
Illinois advanced to meet Ohio University in the finals of the Bronze Flight.
Ohio U. 3, Illinois 2
Ohio University scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Illinois, 3-2. Illinois, who was the only team that had to play three games on the day, drops to 9-3 on the season.
The Illini got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. For the second consecutive game, catcher Janna Sartini knocked in the first Illini run, as she singled to right scoring Lindsey Hamma.
The Illini gave themselves a little room in the bottom of the fifth inning. First baseman Alicia Hammel's sacrifice fly scored Erin Jones, making it 2-0 Illinois.
The Bobcats, however, scored three straight runs with two outs off Illini starter Kathryn Nevard. With Illinois up 2-1, Ohio's Stephanie Stapleton doubled to left center field to score two runs and put Ohio in front, 3-2.
The Illini stayed in the game, though, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning and putting two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Ohio relief pitcher, Valerie Wood, was able to get out of each jam.
The Illini will next travel to the Florida Atlantic Tournament next weekend. The Illini face Florida Atlantic, Florida State, and Maryland in pool play of the three-day tournament.
