March 23, 2002

Mercer vs. Illinois Boxscore
Goergia Tech vs. Illinois Boxscore

Marietta, Ga. - Illinois was playing its best softball of the season up until Friday night. The Illini were averaging over 10 runs per game in a six-game winning streak. That streak ended Friday and the Illini dropped two more games in the Buzz Classic Saturday. The Illini lost to Mercer, 4-3, and to the host Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 3-0. Last year Illinois made the semifinals of the Buzz Classic. This season the Illini failed to qualify for the championship bracket tournament.

Lindsey Hamma highlighted Illinois offensively once again. Hamma was 3-for-7 with a double, an RBI and one run scored combined in the two games. Alicia Hammel was 2-for-3 vs. Georgia Tech.

The day started right for Illinois as the Illini scored in the first vs. Mercer. Freshman LeeAnn Butcher led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a solid single to center off the bat of Erin Montgomery.

Abby Lovejoy came into the game with a 5-0 record and a 0.49 ERA. Amy Parbon tagged Lovejoy with a two-run homer in the first to make it 2-1 Mercer.

Illinois tied the game in the third. Erin Jones showed some speed by stealing second after producing a one-out single. Hamma continued her hot hitting by roping a single to center, scoring Jones from second.

Mercer took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth. Uncharacteristically for Illinois, the Illini committed two errors in the inning leading to two unearned runs for Mercer. Parbon singled home one of the Bear runs in the frame.

The Illini cut the deficit in half by scoring one run in the fifth. Lindsey Hamma delivered a one-out double to left field. One out later Kristie Sauter, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, singled home Hamma, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, ending the inning. Mercer's Kristi Montgomery retired Illinois in order in both the sixth and the seventh.

Illinois managed five hits against Georgia Tech. Trailing 2-0, the Illini loaded the bases with one out in the third thanks to a walk by Lauren Gronski and back-to-back singles from Jones and Hamma. The Illini couldn't capitalize. Illinois threatened again in the third, putting runners at first and third with one out, but again couldn't push a run across.

Georgia Tech, meanwhile, got all the runs it needed on a two-run homer by Tara Knudsen in the first. The Ramblin' Wreck got an insurance run off Sherri Taylor (7-6) in the fifth on an RBI single from Jamie Frost. Tech had seven hits for the game.

Illinois is scheduled to return to action Tuesday at Bradley.