April 13, 2001
Urbana, Ill. -
Friday the 13th was lucky for Lindsey Hamma and the Illini. The Illinois shortstop was 5-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored in the Illini's doubleheader sweep of Northwestern at Eichelberger Field. Illinois won the first game, 4-2 and took the nightcap, 8-2.
The wins were big for the Illini, who move into a fifth-place tie in the Big Ten standings with a 5-5 record (37-17 overall). Illinois leapfrogs Northwestern (13-17, 4-6), who started the day one game ahead of the Illini.
Hamma's accomplishments come two days after going 5-for-7 with two doubles and six RBI against Indiana State. Against Northwestern Friday, Sarah Baumgartner was 4-for-7 with two RBI.
Illinois wasted little time in getting started in either ballgame, scoring four runs in the first inning in game one and three runs in the first in game two.
Katie O'Connell provided the big blow in the first game with a line shot double down the third base line with the bases loaded that scored both Erin Montgomery and Erin Jones. One out later Alicia Hammel singled driving home Hamma, who reached on a single. O'Connell scored on a throwing error making it 4-0 Illinois.
Kathryn Nevard was brilliant in the opener, striking out seven, while allowing no walks and three hits. She retired the first 11 batters she faced and struck out four in the first three innings. With two outs in the fourth, Northwestern's Carri Leto singled. Erin Jancic tripled to right field scoring Leto then advanced home on a throwing error.
Illinois not only scored three runs in the first inning of game two, but added four more in the second frame and one run in the third. Meghan Watson was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Janna Sartini went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Once again the Illini loaded the bases in the first. Erin Jones scored on a passed ball to open the scoring. Baumgartner drove in a run with a single to center, then Alicia Hammel went the opposite way for a single down the right field line which plated Sartini.
Illinois sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning and eight to the plate in the second. Janna Sartini singled with the bases loaded scoring the first runs of the second. Baumgartner came through for the second inning in a row with a run scoring single. Sartini followed by scoring on an error.
Hamma stayed hot, roping an RBI single to right to account for Illinois' run in the third. Amanda Fortune gave up just two fourth-inning runs, while walking just one and striking out five.
Illinois hosts the hottest team in the conference to town over the Easter weekend. Iowa (30-7, 7-1) is ranked 12th in the nation and has won 18 of its last 19 games. First pitch Saturday is 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
