March 31, 2001

Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - Heading into Saturday's game with Michigan, Illinois had given up just two runs in the first inning all season. The Wolverines doubled that total with two first-inning runs against the Illini then added eight more in a 10-2 triumph over the Illini at Eichelberger Field.

The game marked the first home loss in Illinois history after sweeping the first four games against Valparaiso and Michigan State. The Wolverines knocked around three Illinois pitchers for 15 hits. By the fourth inning, every Michigan player had at least one hit. The Wolverines scored in four of the six innings.

Amanda Fortune (13-6) lasted just 1 1/3 innings and gave up the first three runs to end her eight-game winning streak. Kelsey Kollen led off the game with a double, one of six Michigan extra base hits. Stephanie Volpe and Melinda Moulden each drove home runs for Michigan in the second inning.

The Wolverines added a run in the third then four runs in the fourth, Marissa Young, who improved to 7-6 on the year with the pitching victory, helped her cause with a home run to left center field that hit the scoreboard. Volpe's three-run homer in the sixth highlighted a three-run sixth.

Illinois scored a run in the fourth and another run in the sixth and the game was called to the eight-run rule. Sarah Baumgartner drove in Janna Sartini with one of three Illinois singles in fourth inning. The Illini got their other run on an error in the sixth.

Illinois (30-13, 2-1 in the Big Ten) meets Michigan (13-11-1, 1-0) at 1 p.m. for the conclusion of the two-game series on Sunday.