Feb. 10, 2002
Final Stats
Shreveport, La. -
While folks in Champaign faced a dose of rain and snow flurries this weekend, the Illini softball team ran into a hurricane - a Golden Hurricane. The Illini went 3-2 in the Centenary College Tournament in Shreveport, La., and placed to second in the tournament to Tulsa.
The Golden Hurricanes defeated Illinois 3-1 on Sunday in the championship game after downing Illinois 2-1 on Saturday in pool play. Illinois advanced to the championship game with an 8-0 slaughter rule victory over Centenary on Sunday morning.
Three Illinois players were named to the All-Tournament Team - catcher Janna Sartini, shortstop Lindsey Hamma, and outfielder LeeAnn Butcher. Sartini had six RBIs for the tournament and went 2 for 3 in the championship game. Hamma hit .471 (8 for 17) with two doubles, four stolen bases, and four runs scored. Butcher, playing in her first collegiate games, batted .389 (7 for 18) with four runs scored and two stolen bases.
"Our goal was to win the tournament, so from that standpoint we're disappointed with second place," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "However, we gained valuable experience in our first tournament of the year and our first-year players had solid weekends - in particular LeeAnn Butcher, Abby Lovejoy and Jami Bradley."
Lovejoy pitched a five-inning complete game, two-hit shutout of Birmingham Southern on Saturday. Bradley was 2 for 3 against Tulsa.
"There were a lot of other positives," Sullivan continued. "Sarah Baumgartner got the game winning hit in the seventh inning on Saturday, Sherri Taylor did a nice job on the mound for us. LeeAnn Butcher was on fire at the plate, and Janna Sartini and Lindsey Hamma each played well."
Illinois played Tulsa even after the first inning in each meeting. In both Tulsa wins, the Golden Hurricanes got a first-inning home run and made it stand the rest of the way. Tulsa's Ami Day had a three-run blast on Sunday in the opening frame off of Amanda Fortune (1-1).
Illinois had 10 hits vs. Tulsa, but managed just one run. "We threatened in every inning, we just couldn't get the timely hit when we needed it," Sullivan said. "Our team battled right down to the last at-bat."
Illinois scored in the third inning on an RBI single from Sartini (2 for 3). The Illini had base runners in every inning but the second and had runners in scoring position in four of those innings. Hamma (2 for 4), Sartini, and Bradley had multiple hit games.
Illinois needed only six innings to defeat host Centenary, 8-0 to advance to the title game. The Illini brought out the bats early. Leadoff batter LeeAnn Butcher reached first on an error and stole second. Third baseman Erin Jones grounded out to first, advancing Butcher. Butcher scored on the next play, a wild pitch by Brooke Ponder. Lindsey Hamma singled to left and also stole second. Janna Sartini singled to center field, bringing Hamma home.
In the second inning, Julie Balicki got on board with a walk. After Balicki stole second, Alicia Hammel grounded out to third, advancing Balicki. Butcher reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Balicki. Butcher stole second and advanced to third on a Jones single. Hamma grounded out to short, sending in Butcher. Sartini made it to first off a shortstop error but was thrown out at second by the catcher after Jones scored.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jones again singled, stole second and scored on Hamma's single to right.
In the sixth and final inning, Bridget Pluta had a leadoff walk and advanced on a wild pitch. Jones joined Pluta on base after Jones was hit by a pitch. Hamma had her third hit of the morning, dropping a single to center, scoring Pluta and advancing Jones to third on the throw. Sartini reached on a fielder's choice while Jones came in to end the game by the eight-run rule.
Sherri Taylor pitched five quality innings for the win, only allowing one hit, two walks and six strikeouts. Freshman Christine Burchill pitched the sixth inning, allowing the defense to handle Centenary in order.
