March 29, 2002
Final Stats
Norh Mankato, Minn. -
Although a few days before April Fool's Day, the Big Ten softball season opened in strange fashion Friday night. Because of icy conditions earlier in the week, the Minnesota softball field remained unplayable this weekend. An eleventh hour decision moved the conference opener some 60 miles southwest of Minneapolis to North Mankato, Minn. Still a standing room only crowd watched the home Gophers edge visiting Illinois, 2-0
The loss spoiled an outstanding performance by Illinois sophomore pitcher Sherri Taylor, who limited Minnesota, the 23rd ranked team in the country, to just three hits and posted six strikeouts. "The battery of Sherri Taylor and Lauren Gronski did an outstanding job," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "They kept a very potent hitting team off balance all night. I'm impressed with the confidence with which they played."
Illinois had a golden opportunity to score in the first inning. Shortstop Lindsey Hamma led off the game with a single to center. Back-to-back walks to Erin Montgomery and Sarah Baumgartner loaded the bases with one out, but Illinois failed to score. Still the Illini had made a statement that they were going to be aggressive at the plate.
"There's no doubt that we came ready not only to play, but to win," added Sullivan. "We did a lot of good things tonight, still we had a chance to score in the first inning, but couldn't capitalize."
Taylor struck out the side to open the first and retired the first seven batters she faced. Neither team threatened again until the fourth when Minnesota's Anne Thul doubled to right field with two outs. Taylor got out of that jam by getting Veronica Roberts to bounce out to third.
Illinois gave up two unearned runs in the fifth inning. Pitcher Angie Recknor reached on an error, then Taylor gave up back to back walks, loading the bases. The next batter, Tammi Hays, took advantage of a drawn in infield and reached on another infield error to allow the lead run to score.
One out later, Erin Jones made a nice play on a sharply hit ball to thrown home for the force. Minnesota's Stephanie Sward crossed the plate, however, after the ball had reached the circle, but the umpires claimed that time had not been called.
That was all Recknor would need. She didn't allow a hit after the third inning and shut out the Illini on just three hits. Recknor retired the final seven hitters in order.
The two teams meet again here on Saturday at noon before the Illini take a five-hour bus ride to Madison, Wis., for an Easter Sunday doubleheader with Wisconsin.
"Our team is very mature in that they realize that they have to play the moment and not worry about tonight's outcome," said Sullivan. "They'll be ready to battle again on Saturday."
