March 22, 2002
Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore
Marietta, Ga. -
Illinois pounded out 20 hits in the afternoon in a 19-3 romp of Charleston Southern in the opening game the 2002 Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. The Illini could have used a couple of those hits at night, however, as they suffered a 2-1 setback to Tennessee Tech in Game Two.
The loss brought to an end Illinois' impressive six-game winning streak and made Illinois 16-9 on the season. Illinois plays Mercer (Noon CST) and Georgia Tech (2 p.m. CST) Saturday afternoon before entering bracket play either Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Illinois scored 61 runs and had 74 hits in the six-game winning streak. That offensive power culminated in the win over Charleston Southern. In that game, Illinois scored 10 runs in the first inning off Charleston Southern without recording an out. Lindsey Hamma was 3-for-3 with four runs and three RBI. Erin Jones was also 3-for-3 with three RBI, and two runs scored. All nine batters in the Illini line-up got hits.
Jami Bradley (2-for-3) drove in Illinois' first two runs with a single to center, plating both Jones and Erin Montgomery. Lauren Gronski singled to center driving in two more runs. Alicia Hammel and Hamma also drove home runs as the Illini sent 14 batters to the plate in the first.
Katie O'Connell (2-for-3, two runs) hit her second home run of the year, a solo shot to open the second inning. That helped juice a five-run rally. Sarah Baumgartner knocked home two runs with a single down the left field line.
Illinois added three more runs in the third, scoring one run on a passed ball and the other two on a single by Erin Jones, which scored both Hamma and Hammel.
Abby Lovejoy went the first three innings to pick up the pitching victory and improve her record to 5-0.
In the second game in frigid conditions, the Illinois bats, which had come alive the past week, were as cold as the air temperature. Illinois managed just four hits and no extra base hits against Tennessee Tech's Lisa Lamb.
As had been the case in the win streak Illinois scored first in the first inning. Hamma led off the game with a single to center. Jones reached with a bunt single. Hamma advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on an Erin Montgomery sacrifice fly.
That unfortunately was all the offense Illinois could muster.
Illinois starter Sherri Taylor likewise allowed just four hits, but gave up a costly two-run homer to LeeAnne Mongar in the fourth inning, which proved to be the difference.
Lamb retired 11 Illinois batters in a row before Illinois mounted a threat in the sixth. Bradley singled and Erin Montgomery walked putting runners on first and second, but the Illini couldn't get the run across.
