March 16, 2002
Final Stats
Rock Hill, S.C. -
"We've been focusing on having an attitude like that of Cal Ripken, who comes to play hard every day," said Illinois' Lauren Gronski after her team won two games at the Winthrop College Tournament on Saturday.
Indeed, the Illini softball team got a little bit of everything in the two games. Illinois got great pitching and defense in a 1-0 win over Eastern Kentucky. Then the bats exploded for 14 hits in a 10-1 slaughter rule win over East Carolina.
Sherri Taylor shut out an Eastern Kentucky team that had scored three runs on Stanford, who is ranked in the top-five nationally. Taylor gave up just three hits and two walks, while striking out four.
The game with EKU was scoreless going into the seventh. The Colonels threatened in the top half, loading the bases with two outs, but Taylor got Amy Herrington to pop up to Katie O'Connell at second to end the rally.
The Illini won the game in the bottom of the seventh. Alicia Hammel singled to lead off the inning. Julie Balicki pinch ran and beat a throw to second on a grounder in the infield, putting runners on first and second. O'Connell sacrificed both runners over, then Balicki scored on a wild pitch to end the game.
The East Carolina game was never in doubt. Illinois struck early with three runs in the top of the first on a three-run home run from Jami Bradley (2 for 4, 4 RBI), her first roundtripper as an Illini.
Gronski, catching for the injured Janna Sartini, went 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI. Her double started the second inning as the Illini added a run to make it 4-0.
"Our bats have picked up 100 percent," said Gronski. "The way we were swinging today, we could have hit anyone."
After East Carolina cut the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of the third, the Illini put the game away with six runs in the fourth. Illinois sent 10 batters to the plate and posted five hits. Gronski doubled home a run in the inning. Bradley singled home Erin Montgomery and the Illini took advantage of two Pirate errors in the explosion.
Hamma was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while O'Connell was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Taylor picked up the win by tossing 2.2 innings of shutout ball in improving her record to 6-4.
"We brought a complete game today," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "This is probably as great a softball as this team has ever played. Sherri Taylor pitched a fantastic game. Lauren Gronski called a great game and is also hitting the ball well. This was a complete team effort from the reserved players who got the team fired up to the pitching, situational hitting and the great defense."
The tournament concludes with bracket play on Sunday.
