Feb. 24, 2002
Box Score
Santa Barbara, Calif -
In the final day of the Softball by the Beach Invitational, Illinois faced No. 5 Cal. The Bears shut out the Fighting Illini, 8-0, in five innings behind a perfect game by freshman pitcher Cassie Bobrow (4-0). Illinois is now 9-6 on the year.
"Cal didn't give us an opportunity to do what we needed to do," said assistant coach Donna DiBiase. "That's what good teams do. The highlight of our game was Abby Lovejoy coming in and shutting down Cal."
Cal scored in the first inning. Sophomore pitcher Amanda Fortune hit Kaleo Eldredge, the first batter she faced. Kristen Morley advanced Eldredge on a single. Third baseman Candace Harper moved the runners to second and third on a 4-3-sacrifice bunt. Cleanup batter Veronica Nelson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Catcher Courtney Scott sacrifice flied out to LeeAnn Butcher at left, sending in Eldredge. Chelsea Spencer popped out to Katie O'Connell at second to end the inning.
The Bears added two more in the second. Jessica Vernaglia led off with a double to center. Vernaglia advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Jessica Pamanian single to left center. Pamaniam advanced on a hit back to Fortune. Morley hit a single to left, scoring Pamanian. Morley tried to advance to second on the throw home but was thrown out by catcher Janna Sartini to O'Connell.
Sherri Taylor came in to relieve Fortune in the top of the third. Taylor gave up a double to Harper, the first batter she faced. After intentionally walking Nelson, the runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Cal had a sac fly to center to score Harper. Spencer popped out to O'Connell. Taylor walked the bases loaded, and Pamanian hit a shot over the left field fence for a grand slam. Eldredge fouled out to Erin Jones at third to end the inning.
Abby Lovejoy relieved Taylor in the fourth. Taylor pitched one inning and faced a batter in the fourth. Fortune (4-4) took the loss for Illinois. Lovejoy had the lone strikeout for Illinois.
Illinois returns to action on March 1-3 as they will play in the Frost Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. Tournament action begins on Friday as the Illini will face Marshall at 12:15 p.m. Eastern and Lipscomb at 2:30 p.m.
