Feb. 25, 2005

Tampa, Fla. - Hofstra scored five runs on five hits while sending ten batters to the plate in third inning en route to a 6-1 victory over Illinois in the first game of the USF Tournament.

Illinois took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Rachelle Coriddi led off the game with a walk and Lee Ann Butcher reached on an infield single. After a walk to Jenna Hall loaded the bases, Angelena Mexicano drove in Coriddi with a ground out. The Illini had other opportunities to score in the game but left 11 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth. Butcher went 2-for-4 to pace the Illinois attack offensively.

Hofstra, meanwhile, pounded out 11 hits, including eight combined in the second and third innings. Eight of the nine batters in the Hofstra order reached base paced by Lisa Torres, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Pam Dreslinski was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

The fateful third inning began with a Lisa Wambold double to left center. Hailey Clark doubled home Wambold to give Hofstra the lead for good at 2-1. Torress and Dreslinski each singled home a run and Laura Sweeney gave Hofstra a commanding lead with a two-run single with the bases loaded.

Illinois had opportunities in the final three innings. In the fifth, Butcher reached a on bunt single, Shanna Diller walked, and Jenna Hall was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Hofstra pitcher Ashley Clark retired the final two batters without giving up a run. In the sixth Molly Lawhead and Coriddi had back-to-back two-out singles and in the seventh Diller and Hall each reached on errors to begin the inning, but in neither inning could the Illini get the clutch hit.

The Illinois-South Florida game has been postponed due to extensive rain. Satuday's schedule could change as well. Return to fightingillini.com for details