Sept. 24, 2006

Urbana, Ill. - Shanna Diller's solo home run in the top of the seventh provided the difference in Illinois' 3-2 victory over the Alumni Sunday at Eichelberger Field. That marked the first win by the Illini in three-year history of the series.

Jenna Hall, fresh off being named all-league her rookie season in the National Professional Softball League, crushed a ball deep over the left-field fence giving the Alumni a 2-0 lead, but that was all the scoring the Alumni would get off of four Illinois pitchers. In fact, the Alumni had just four hits the rest of the way.

Freshman Jenn Brock allowed just a walk in the final two innings of work to pick up the victory, forcing Hall to hit into a game-ending double play.

Alumni starter Amanda Fortune looked sharp in retiring the first ten batters of the game, three on strikeouts. Illinois got seven hits in the final four innings. With runners at second and third and two outs in the fourth inning, Kisten Martin singled home Molly Lawhead from third, but Diller was thrown out by Erin Montgomery trying to score.

In the fifth freshman pitcher Christine Christopoulus singled in the tying run, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double by Rachelle Coriddi in center.

Fortune retired the side in order in the sixth, but Diller turned on a Fortune pitch and sent a line drive over the right-center field fence to provide the game winner to lead off the seventh.

Illinois finishes the fall schedule a perfect 8-0. The team will hold an intrasquad three-game "Orange and Blue World Series" starting Tuesday at 4 p.m. The series continues Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and Thursday at 3:45 p.m.