March 28, 2004

Box Score

Palo Alto, Calif. - Illinois used a big sixth inning to overcome a slow start and take third place in the Stanford Classic with a 2-0 win against UC-Riverside. Illinois used two extra-base hits and two singles to score both runs in the sixth.

Amanda Fortune threw an exceptional game for the Illini, scattering two hits and striking out seven while walking two. After striking out the side in the first inning, she worked out of trouble in the second when UC-Riverside's first two batters reached base on a walk and a fielder's choice. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out, but Fortune struck out the next hitter and coaxed a flyout to shallow center field to end the inning.

Scoreless through five and a half innings, Illinois broke through when Erin Jones blasted a one-out triple to the wall in right-center field. Rachelle Coriddi drove her in with a single through the right side then stole second. Jenna Hall followed by slapping another base hit through the right side to score Coriddi. Erin Montgomery moved Hall to third with her double to left-center, but both runners were stranded as Illinois finished six innings up 2-0.

It proved to be enough, as Fortune continued to cruise. She retired the first Highlander batter on a flyout then struck out catcher Andrea Cunningham on a wicked changeup. She finished off UC-R with a lineout to Hamma at shortstop.

The Illini finish the Stanford Classic 3-2 and in third place. LeeAnn Butcher and Jenna Hall each finished the tournament 5-for-13, a .385 average. Rachelle Coriddi was 3-for-3 stealing bases, and Hamma was 2-for-2 swiping bases.

Illinois returns to action Wednesday, playing a single game at Loyola at 6 p.m.