April 5, 2002

Final Stats

Urbana, Ill. - "Sometimes teams have big first innings like that," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "It's how you come back from that that tells a lot about the character of your team."

Iowa (20-12, 3-0 in the Big Ten) scored four runs and pounded out six hits in the first inning, but Illinois bounced back to garner nine hits of its own. Unfortunately for the Illini, it wasn't enough in an 8-2 setback to No. 19 Iowa Friday night at Eichelberger Field.

Iowa hitters got to Illinois starter Sherri Taylor right out of the gate. Kristin Johnson hit a shot off Taylor's leg for an infield single to start the game. The next hitter, Alicia Gerlach, belted a two-run home run to the deepest part of the park, making it 2-0 Iowa before many of the 398 fans got to their seats.

Last year Iowa had six hits and no runs against Illinois in two games at Eichelberger Field. The Hawkeyes matched the hit total in the first inning Friday. After Liz Dennis doubled off the fence, Sullivan went right to left-hander Abby Lovejoy. After giving up three hits and one unearned run in the first, Lovejoy settled down, allowing just one hit in the second and retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings.

"After the first we just tried to regain our focus," said Sullivan. "I thought our team did a great job at fighting back. We only had two strikeouts against one of the top strikeout pitchers in the conference."

Illinois (20-14, 2-3) didn't back down against Iowa starter Kristi Hanks, a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2001. After two solid hits in the third, Illinois finally scored in the fourth. Lindsey Hamma delivered a one-out single to center. Sarah Baumgartner nearly parked one, instead lifted a shot off the fence in left field, scoring the fleet footed Hamma all the way from first. The Illini weren't done. Elene Planinsek singled home Baumgartner for her third RBI in five days. That cut the gap to 4-2 and gave the Illini some hope.

Those hopes were dashed in the sixth, however, when Iowa sent eight batters to the plate and scored three more runs in the sixth. Hanks helped her cause with a double. Lindsey Bashor singled home Lisa Birrocci then the Hawkeyes successfully executed the double steal. Kristen Johnson doubled home another run, making it 7-2.

Iowa added another run in the seventh, but the Illini had some good news in the seventh with the return of Janna Sartini, who's been out five weeks with a knee injury. She caught the seventh, then doubled in the bottom of the inning at the plate.

The hits were spread around for both teams. Eight Hawkeyes and eight different Illinois players had hits. Only Alicia Hammel (2-for-3) had more than one hit for the Illini.

The two teams meet again Saturday at noon. Sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50s are expected.