May 10, 2002

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Illini stayed alive this morning at the Big Ten Tournament with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Wisconsin in an elimination game. The Illini advance to meet the winner of the Penn State-Iowa game at 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Alicia Hammel hit her second career home run, first this season, with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Sherri Taylor walked the first two batters of the seventh inning, but got the next two to bounce out.

The game was one of missed opportunities for both teams. The first three batters of the game for Illinois, LeeAnn Butcher, Erin Jones, and Lindsey Hamma, all singled to load the bases with no outs. Wisconsin's Andrea Kirchberg walked Erin Montgomery to force in Butcher from third, but that's all the Illini could muster in the inning.

Kirchberg, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, struck out eight, including two in the first inning. Illinois had the lead-off batter aboard each of the next three innings, but couldn't score.

Illinois' Sherri Taylor retired eight batters in a row until Mandy Liles led off the fourth with a single, but Illini catcher Janna Sartini picked off Liles at first.

Wisconsin tied the game with a solo home run by Sheena Padovan. The Badgers had a golden chance to take the lead in the top of the sixth. With one out and a runner at sixth, a Badger runner was called out for leaving early on a ball hit by Liles. So with two outs and no one on, Liles came back with a single to left and Kristin Zacher delivered her second double of the game. Taylor got the next batter to pop up to end the inning.

Lindsey Hamma now has reached base six straight times. Against Wisconsin, Hamma was 2-for-2 with a walk.

Illinois has a 6-1 record against Wisconsin (31-20) over the past two seasons.