April 14, 2001

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - Sunshine greeted fans at Eichelberger Field on Saturday afternoon. The vocal crowd of 513 had much to cheer about as Illinois freshman Kathryn Nevard won a pitching dual with one of the top pitchers in the Big Ten, Iowa's Kristi Hanks, 1-0 in a game that took just 1:30. The Hawkeyes came into the game ranked 12th in the nation and winners of 18 of their last 19 games.

"We always say you play the game not an opponent," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "Today we concentrated on playing good fundamental softball, controlling our emotions, and putting ourselves in position to win."

Nevard, who improves her record to 20-8, worked the inside and outside corners to perfection and struck out five batters while allowing just one walk and four hits. In no inning did Iowa have more than one runner on base and just once did a runner reach second.

Hanks (24-5) was equally as masterful, retiring the first 11 batters she faced before Illinois put forth a two-out rally in the fourth. Lindsey Hamma delivered a single to right field and Janna Sartini walked, but the Illini could not get a run home. Hanks allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out six.

The Illini, which has made a living scoring with two outs this year, did it again in the sixth inning vs. the Hawkeyes. With two outs, Erin Jones poked a single down the left field line. Hamma, who now has 13 hits in her last 17 at-bats, looped a single into center field. Jones, who had a good jump on the play rounded second and headed to third. Iowa, trying to throw Jones out, threw the ball away, allowing Jones to score the only run of the game.

Nevard allowed one walk in the seventh, but got the last hitter to ground out to Katie O'Connell at second for the final out of the game.

"Kathryn and (catcher) Janna (Sartini) worked the game plan well," noted Sullivan.

Illinois, a team of all-freshman, has a 38-17 overall record, 6-5 in the Big Ten and a 3-1 record against ranked opponents. The most Big Ten wins by any first-year program are eight by Michigan State, who did it playing a 28-game schedule. The conference has reduced that number to 20.

"Iowa is a powerhouse," Sullivan said. "They're well-coached and have great athletes. They made some big plays as well. I'm just proud of the maturity of our team that we matched their intensity."

The crowd, as into the game as any this year at Eichelberger Field, was a factor, according to Sullivan. "You say in basketball, they're a sixth man, Today it was like that in softball. They were a big help to us all afternoon."

Illinois and Iowa wrap up a two-game series Sunday at 1p.m. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids starting at 12:30 p.m. at Eichelberger Field.