April 30, 2002

Game One Stats

Game Two Stats

Chicago, Ill. - For 11 innings, Illinois searched for a way to score off DePaul pitching. Then in the fifth inning of game two of its doubleheader, the Illini exploded for four runs to tie the contest. Unfortunately, the Blue Demons rebounded for a run in the bottom of seventh to complete a two-game sweep of Illinois, winning the first game 3-0 and taking the second 5-4.

DePaul All-American pitcher Lindsay Chouinard entered the day with a streak of 45.1 innings without giving up an earned run. In the opener, Chouinard shut out Illinois on just one hit, striking out eight. She took a no-hitter into the sixth where Sarah Baumgartner roped a single down the left field line for the Illini's only hit.

In the first inning of game one, the Demons Gina Ramacci singled home Sarah Martz and Christina Douglas, who had singled their way on.

Illinois starter Sherri Taylor settled down from there and gave up just two hits in the next three innings. The Demons April Valdez tripled home the third run of the game in the sixth.

Valdez started the second game on the mound and the Illini got to her for eight hits. Janna Sartini was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Erin Jones went 2-for-4 with a run.

DePaul (40-8) used its short game to perfection in the second game. A single, an error, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly produced a run in the first inning. Then three infield hits loaded the bases in the third for Douglas, who cleared the bases with a double to left.

The Illini (30-22), meanwhile, had two hits in the first and two more in the fourth, before producing four hits and scoring their runs in the fifth. Lindsay Hamma drove in Elene Planinsek with a ground out, then Sartini tied the score with a three-run home run to left. That was Sartini's second homer in three days and third in the last 12.

"Janna's role on the team has been clear," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "She has had a hand in our team's success of late. She is our quarterback behind the plate. Janna will tell you that she is a catcher first. Having said that, I'm happy for all the offensive production she has had of late."

DePaul put Chouinard back into pitch, and she retired the side in both the sixth and the seventh to give her team a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh. Liz Bouck led off the inning with an infield single. Douglas singled to center and the Illini intentionally walked Valdez to get to Gina Ramacci, who was hit by a pitch to force in the game winning run.

"In the first game we ran into a hot pitcher," Sullivan said. "Even though we got down early in the second game, we battled back and made it a new game. It's a great experience to play a top 10 or top 20 team and be able to compete. We have goals for ourselves, and not just long-term goals. We believe we can compete with anyone, but we have to continue to work hard in order to reach those goals."