March 24, 2001
Box Score
MARIETTA, Ga. -
Playing its second ranked opponent of the season, the University of Illinois women's softball team defeated No. 21 Wisconsin in the first round of single elimination play at the Buzz Classic. Illinois improves its record to 25-11 on the season and are 5-0 at the Buzz Classic. The Illini will face Maryland in the quarterfinals Sunday morning at 9 a.m. Illinois has won ten of its last eleven games.
"We came to play and this was a good test for us to play a team like Wisconsin before we head into conference play next week," said Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan. "I was proud of our at-bats against their pitcher who was an All-American. We knew it was going to be a challenge but we stepped up to it."
Despite dominating and going undefeated in pool play, Illinois was the lone winner of a pool that had to play a game this evening to advance to the quarterfinals.
Following a one-hitter vs. Florida A&M earlier in the day, Kathryn Nevard limited the Badgers to four hits while walking none and striking out two batters. Nevard's record is now 13-6 on the season. Lindsey Hamma was the leading batter for the Illini as she finished 2-for-3 with one run scored.
"Kathryn and Janna (Sartini) were very aggressive and challenged the Wisconsin hitters," said Coach Sullivan. "They have a lot of good players at-bat and take a lot of big swings so I thought as a battery they did a great job."
The Illini scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning. Katie O'Connell hit a two-out RBI single off Andrea Kirchberg to center field to score Hamma giving Illinois a 1-0 lead.
"It was a good at-bat for Katie who waited for her pitch to hit," said Coach Sullivan. "Hamma also did a good job with her hit and stealing second base."
Wisconsin was able to get its lead-off hitter on base in the seventh inning. But Nevard and the Illinois defense were able to get the next three outs to seal Illinois' second victory against a ranked opponent this season. Badger second baseman Anna Jones hit a deep fly ball to left field but the Illini's Kristie Sauter was able to make a catch near the fence to preserve the Illinois victory. Illinois defeated No. 16 Florida State 1-0 at the Florida Atlantic Tournament on Feb. 23, 2001.
