March 14, 2001
Conway, S.C.-- After losing 1-0 to Coastal Carolina in the seventh inning yesterday afternoon, the University of Illinois women's softball team bounced back with a 4-1 win against the Chanticleers. The Illini advance to the semifinals of the Spring Chicken Classic and will face the number one seed Virginia Cavaliers at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST. The Illini defeated Virginia in round-robin play yesterday afternoon, 5-0, and the lone team to defeat Virginia in the tournament.
"This was a true team victory and it was nice to come back to play after losing a heartbreaker to them yesterday," said Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan. "Our ten hits were real nice to see and our two-out hits were real big and they got some runs for us."
Megan Watson batted 2-for-3 with her first career home run and Katie O'Connell finished with a career best 3-for-4 at the plate. Along with ten hits from the Illinois offense, Illinois pitchers Amanda Fortune and Kathryn Nevard limited the Chanticleers to three hits and two walks. Nevard pitched four innings of shutout relief to improve her record to 9-5 on the season. Nevard allowed only one hit and one walk in relief of Fortune.
Illinois wasted no time, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Janna Sartini's two-out single up the middle was misplayed by Chanticleer center fielder Kimberly Josephson and enabled Lindsey Hamma to score all the way from first base.
The Illini extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning. The Illini were again able to score with two outs as Erin Montgomery ripped an RBI double to left field that scored Fortune.
Coastal Carolina got one run back in the bottom of the second inning. Jennifer Schmidt's sacrifice fly to left field scored Sarah Lockett and decreased the Illini lead to 2-1.
Illinois knocked Chanticleer starter Danielle Jenkins out of the game in the fourth inning. With one out and Sarah Baumgartner on second base, Erin Montgomery hit her second straight RBI double to increase the Illini lead to 3-1.
Watson's homer in the fifth inning gave the Illini their final run and a three-run lead that Coastal Carolina couldn't overcome.
"Megan has the ability to do what she did and she had a great game at the plate," said Coach Sullivan. "It was nice to see one go out of the park for our team."
The Illini's overall record moves to 15-9 on the season.
Tuesday's Recap
Conway, S.C. -- In their second game of the day, a home run in the seventh inning spoiled a good pitching performance by Kathryn Nevard, as the host Chanticleers defeated Illinois 1-0. Leading off the seventh inning, Chanticleer left fielder Holly Lee knocked the first pitch over the center field wall to end the game. Illinois' record is now 14-9 on the season and 1-3 in the Spring Chicken Classic.
Despite the loss, Nevard limited Coastal Carolina to four hits and allowed only one walk. Nevard's record for the season moves to 8-5.
"Kathryn and Janna were doing a great job out there by putting their hitters down for most the game," said Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan. "Coastal has a few players in their lineup who can hit a home run and you don't want to put yourself in that position."
It looked as if the Illini would score in the top of the seventh inning. Meghan Watson led off the inning with a single to left field and Sarah Baumgartner drew a one-out walk to put two Illini runners on base. Coastal Carolina starter Stephanie Belden was able to get Erin Montgomery to fly out to left field and Erin Jones to fly out to right.
"We were knocking on the door every inning but we couldn't get a runner past second base," said Coach Sullivan. "It's great to get a chance to play Coastal again and come out looking for a little payback and focus on what we can do well."
Illinois will be seeded fifth for single elimination play and will face Coastal Carolina at 9 a.m. EST. If the Illini are victorious, they will face the number one seed at 2:00 p.m. EST. The number one seed will either be Bowling Green State or Virginia. The championship game will be played at 4:30 p.m. EST.
