April 22, 2001

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - It's often said that all good things must eventually come to end. That was the case Sunday afternoon for the Illinois women's softball team, which fell to Minnesota 1-0 in nine innings, thus bringing an end to Illinois' ten-game winning streak.

Amanda Fortune (18-10) went 8+ innings and gave up just five hits and three walks, but suffers the loss for Illinois.

Minnesota, the home team in the second game of the series, scored the winning run when Minnesota pinch hitter Christine Lindberg successfully executed a squeeze bunt with two strikes, one out and the bases loaded in the ninth bringing home Morgan Holden with the winning run.

The ninth inning began when Veronica Roberts singled to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Holden bunted Roberts to third and reached base as Illinois players watched hopelessly for the bunt to roll foul.

Then the Illini brought on Kathryn Nevard, who had pitched 15 innings the day before, in relief. The Illini intentionally walked Angel Braden, who had a homer yesterday, to load the bases with nobody out. Nevard got the next hitter to roll to shortstop Lindsey Hamma, who forced a runner out at home for the first out of the inning. That's when the Gophers put on the squeeze.

Minnesota out hit Illinois 6-2. Kristie Sauter, who came through in a pinch-hitting roll on Saturday, had one of the Illini's two hits with a double to lead off the Illinois seventh. Unfortunately for Illinois, the Gophers' Piper Martin (19-10) retired the next three batters in order.

It looked as if Minnesota was going to win it in the eighth. With runners at first and second and one out, the Gophers' Shelly Nichols sent a shot over the head of Illini left fielder Erin Montgomery. Montgomery, however used full extension to rob Nichols of the would-be game-winning hit then doubled up the runner at second to end the inning and preserve the game temporarily.

Illinois still maintains its hold on fourth place in the Big Ten with a 10-6 conference record. The Illini take a 43-18 mark into Wednesday's doubleheader vs. Loyola, the last games at Eichelberger Field this season. First pitch in game one is 4 p.m.