Baton Rouge, La. - Illinois gave up a four-run third inning to Oklahoma and a four-run fifth to LSU as the Illini dropped both games on the first day of the Tiger Classic.
Illinois lost 7-0 to Oklahoma in the first game of the Classic, and dropped its nightcap to LSU, 7-3.
Jenna Hall led the Illini offensively, stroking four singles on her way to a 4-for-7 performance on the day.
"Jenna had a great day overall," Illini coach Terri Sullivan said. "She's a hitter; she comes to play all the time."
Those four hits were a significant part of Illinois' offense, as the Illini produced only 11 hits on the day.
Illinois struggled early against LSU, but managed one run in the fourth inning and two in the seventh. Hall notched her fourth single in the fourth, and pinch runner Molly Lawhead scored the first run of her career one out later when Lindsey Hamma smacked a single off the shortstop's glove.
The Illini appeared to be putting together a rally in the seventh, when Erin Jones singled dropped in a single behind third base with one out. One out later, Katie O'Connell reached base after being hit by a pitch and Rachelle Coriddi beat out a slow roller back to the pitcher to load the bases.
Sarah Baumgartner plated two runners with a single to left field, and Coriddi and Baumgartner each advanced a base on a throwing error by the left fielder. But Hall grounded out sharply to the second baseman to end the last-gasp effort and the game.
"What was great was we fought to the end," Sullivan said. "We say that our goal is to always bring the tying run to the plate and we were right there to do that."
The Illini weren't able to get to that situation in the opener against Oklahoma, though.
Illinois gave up four runs to the Sooners in the third inning and Oklahoma also had one run in the second and two in the fifth.
"The difference was Oklahoma took advantage of some mistakes we made, some walks we had, some miscues in the outfield," Sullivan said, "And good teams are going to do that. Then they got some big hits and stole the momentum."
Oklahoma's big third inning included a two-run home run and a two-run double after starting pitcher Amanda Fortune gave up a walk and a single to the Sooners' first two batters of the inning. After forcing a fly-out to shortstop Lindsey Hamma, the double chased Fortune, and reliever Megan Huitink surrendered the homer to the first batter she faced.
"Our pitching was just average today," Sullivan said. "When you play good teams you have to be great at everything, and we were average at a couple things."
Huitink lasted two and one-third innings before giving way to Sherri Taylor, who finished the game for the Illini.
Fortune allowed four runs, all earned, on four hits, with three walks and no strikeouts. Huitink gave up three runs, all earned, on five hits, while walking two and striking out one.
Illinois struggled offensively, leaving runners in scoring position in the first and fourth innings. The Illini had only one runner reach base - Hamma on an infield single in the seventh inning - after the fourth inning.
Rachelle Coriddi and Jenna Hall singled back-to-back in the first, but Coriddi was put out on a fielder's choice, shortstop to third, and Lindsey Hamma grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
The Illini had an even better scoring opportunity in the fourth, as Hall led off the inning with her second single of the day. Pinch runner Molly Lawhead was out on Erin Montgomery's fielder's choice to right field, but Hamma reached on a two-base throwing error by the pitcher. However, Erin Jones struck out looking and Sarah Baumgartner grounded out to third base to end the inning.
The Illini return to action on Saturday with games against Southeastern Louisiana at 9 a.m. and Centenary at 3 p.m.
