Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

College Station, Texas - Rachelle Coriddi, Jenna Hall and Katie O'Connell each collected two hits and Megan Huitink pitched five solid innings as Illinois defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7-0. The victory game the Illini a sweep over the Islanders in the two games between the teams during the Aggie Invitational.

Illinois broke through offensively in the fifth inning, once again capitalizing on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's errors. Lindsey Hamma reached on an error by the second baseman, then advanced to second and moved to third when the centerfielder misplayed Jenna Hall's base hit. One out later, designated player Elene Planinsek drove Hamma in with a single to right-center, and pinch hitter Molly Lawhead singled to center field. Hall then scored on Janna Sartini's base knock to left field to give Illinois a 2-0 lead after five innings.

The Illini got another insurance run in the sixth, when Katie O'Connell doubled to the wall in right-center field. After pinch hitter Sarah Baumgartner sacrificed O'Connell to third, Hamma drove her in with a single to right center.

Illinois added four more runs in the seventh, finally chasing Islanders' starter Dani Damel. The Illini loaded the bases following walks by Planinsek and Sartini sandwiched around Erin Jones' infield hit.

O'Connell plated Planinsek with a single to right field, Jones scored on Baumgartner's single off the pitcher's glove, and Hamma walked to force in Brittany Koester, who pinch ran for Sartini. Two outs later, Baumgartner scored on a balk to give the Illini a 7-0 lead after 6 ? innings.

Huitink struck out four while walking two and giving up three hits in five innings of work for Illinois. Amanda Fortune threw two shutout innings in relief of Huitink.

The Illini turn around and play the host Texas A&M Aggies in a game that will start at approximately 4:15 p.m.