April 3, 2001
Box Score
URBANA, Ill. -
For Illinois pitchers Kathryn Nevard and Amanda Fortune, it was business as usual on Tuesday night. The duo took turns tossing shutouts against the visiting Butler Bulldogs. The Illini swept the doubleheader at Eichelberger Field, 3-0 and 3-0.
Illinois now has not allowed a run against a non-conference foe at Eichelberger Field, having swept Valparaiso, 2-0 and 7-0 last week. The Illini improve to 32-14 heading into weekend games at Ohio State and Penn State.
Nevard (16-7) nearly threw her third no-hitter of the season. She took a no-hitter into the fifth, but a two-out single by Kristin Kulpinski spoiled the no-hitter. That hit, as it turned out, was the only one given up Nevard on the afternoon. Nevard walked one and struck out six.
Illinois had 17 hits in the two games and had base runners in 11 of 12 innings. The differences could have been worse as Illinois left 18 runners on base (8 in game one and 10 in game two).
Erin Jones was the big hitting star for Illinois, going 4 for 8 for the doubleheader with a double and two runs scored. She also stole her 12th base of the season. Katie O'Connell was 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Janna Sartini, meanwhile, had a double in each game.
The Illini scored two runs in the first inning in both games. In the first game, Erin Jones doubled with one out in the first. Lindsey Hamma walked, and Janna Sartini was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Katie O'Connell singled to right, plating Jones. Hamma beat a throw to home off the bat of the next batter Sarah Baumgartner, making it 2-0.
Lindsey Hamma drove home the third Illini run of the day in the third on a single to left scoring Janna Sartini, who doubled.
Amanda Fortune (14-7) gave up just four hits in the second game while also striking out six. Illinois meanwhile was the benefit of four Butler errors. Illinois jumped on Butler for two runs in the first inning of game two. Janna Sartini doubled down the left-field line scoring Erin Jones, who singled with one out. Two Bulldog errors led to the second run.
Illinois left two runners on in the first and third, while leaving the bases loaded in the second. The Illini got the insurance run they were looking for in the sixth. Erin Montgomery doubled to left center, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a single by Lindsay Hamma to right.
