March 17, 2001
Box Score
Rock Hill, S.C. - The Illinois women's softball team continued its success in the Winthrop Invitational with an 8-1 win over Charleston Southern. The Illini are now 2-0 in the tournament and 17-10 overall in the season.
Amanda Fortune improved her record to 6-5 as she limited the Buccaneers to four hits in six innings, while striking out batters. Lindsey Tanner also made her first appearance for the season, as she set down three of four hitters in the seventh inning wit.h two strikeouts
The Illini wasted no time by moving ahead in the first inning with three runs. Erin Montgomery and Erin Jones each led off the inning with a single to left field. With two outs and Jones and Lindsey Hamma on base, Katie O'Connell hit a three-run homerun to right-center field. The homerun was O'Connell's first as an Illini.
Illinois extended its lead to 4-0 in the third inning. With two outs, Lindsey Hamma's aggressive base running paid for the Illini as Hamma scored on a passed ball at home plate. Hamma had already advanced on a wild pitch in the inning.
The Buccaneers got one back in the fourth inning as Tia Walker knocked an RBI single to right field. Although the Bucs were able to score one run, the Illini perfectly executed a relay from right field to home as Karyn Bird threw to Katie O'Connell who threw to Janna Sartini who was able to tag the Buccaneer runner.
The Illini increased the lead to 6-1 in the fourth inning. With runners on first and third, pinch hitter Lauren Gronski knocked a single into right field to score Karyn Bird and put Illinois up by four runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Janna Sartini was hit by a pitch to score pinch runner Kim Hubbard and give the Illini a five run lead.
The Illini bats continued to sizzle in the fifth inning as the Illini upped the lead to 8-1. After a Kristie Sauter leadoff double, Bird singled to center field to score Sauter and move the lead to 7-1. With two outs and Bird on third base, Erin Jones singled to put the Illini up by seven runs.
The Illini will finish round-robin play this evening against Morgan St. at 6 p.m. EST. Single elimination play begins tomorrow.
