Shreveport, La. -Opening day for the Fighting Illini softball team ended with the team finishing in second place after day one of the Centenary Tournament in Shreveport, La. Illinois defeated Centenary, 3-2, lost to Tulsa, 2-1, and beat Birmingham Southern, 5-0. Illinois is now 2-1 on the season.
"The coaching staff is very pleased with what we have accomplished for the opening day," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "With each game we improved and put everything together. Game one we faced many situations and had to come from behind in the seventh. Game two we had the defense but didn't bring the bats. Lindsay Tanner pitched well for us. Game three we put it all together and produced the runs while backing it up with solid defense. In the end, it felt like a good day."
In game one, the Illini rallied from 0-2 to defeat host Centenary in their season opener. The Centenary Ladies scored in the top of the third when pitcher Amanda Fortune walked Jordan Lansdale with the bases loaded, sending Gretchen Schmaltz home. The Ladies scored again in the top of the fifth after Katie Mienen reached first on a fielder's choice sending Lauren Jackson home.
The Illini put a tally on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Erin Jones hit a double to left field, and scored off a wild pitch by Sherilyn Bossier. In the bottom of the seventh, catcher Janna Sartini brought shortstop Lindsey Hamma, after Hamma's double, on a fielder's choice. Katie O'Connell was walked, moving Sartini to second. Centerfielder Sarah Baumgartner popped a shot into the gap for the game-winning RBI.
In game two, Tulsa scored two in the bottom of the first off of a Crissy Strimple home run. Illinois came back in the top of the second. Baumgartner walked to start the inning, advanced off of a Kristi Sauter grounder and scored when Bridget Pluta reached first on an error. The Illini had a chance to tie in the bottom of the seventh. LeeAnn Butcher made it to first on an error, but Alicia Hammel was caught while trying to score for the third out.
In the nightcap against Birmingham Southern, the Illini came out swinging, scoring two in the first. Butcher got on board with a bunt. Jones reached base on a fielder's choice, followed by a single to right field by Hamma. Sartini, facing her sister's team who is an assistant coach for the Panthers with the bases loaded, hit a single to center field, bringing in Jones and Butcher. Lauren Gronski led off the second inning with a homerun to left field.
In the fifth inning, Hamma hit a double to right field and advanced to third on the right fielder's error. O'Connell doubled into right center to drive in Hamma. Hamma scored again in the seventh, after she walked on base, scoring after O'Connell singled to left and stole second base. Abby Lovejoy made her first career appearance for the Illini, recording a two-hitter.
The Illini will face Centenary for the 2nd/3rd in pool game at 9 a.m. The winner will play in the Championship game at 3 p.m. The third place game is set for 1 p.m.
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