April 21, 2001

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - With the wind howling out at Eichelberger Field on Saturday, one might think that home runs would play hand in the game. That was the case, but plays in the infield were eventually the difference in Illinois' thrilling 2-1, 15-inning win over Minnesota.

The victory marked the tenth straight win for Illinois, who moves into a virtual tie for third place in the Big Ten standings. The Illini are 43-17 overall, 10-5 in Big Ten play. Ohio State is 9-4 in the league after losing 2-1 at home to Michigan on Saturday. Minnesota falls to 28-19-1 overall and 3-10 in the conference.

Erin Montgomery put Illinois in front with a solo home run in the third, her fourth long ball of the season, which ties her with Janna Sartini for the team lead. Minnesota countered with a solo shot of its own, this one by second baseman Angel Braden leading off the sixth, her sixth of the year.

The rest of the game belonged to the pitchers. Both Illinois' Kathryn Nevard (23-8) and Minnesota's Angie Recknor pitched all 15 innings. Nevard retired 11 straight batters from the eighth to the 11th inning. She struck out nine batters and allowed just one intentional walk and eight hits.

Finally Illinois eked out a run in the bottom of the 15th. Meghan Watson led off with a double to right field. Montgomery was then intentionally walked bringing Erin Jones to the plate. With a 1-2 count, Jones slapped one between shortstop and third for an infield single. The Minnesota shortstop tried to get the force out at second and threw wildly in the center field, which allowed Watson to score from third for the game winner.

The 15-inning thriller marked the first time in Illinois history that a game lasted past the ninth inning and also marked the longest game in elapsed time in Illini history (3 hours, 25 minutes).

The two teams wrap up a two-game series Sunday at Eichelberger Field at 1 p.m.