April 1, 2007
Final Stats
Bloomington, Ind. -
Illinois hit eight home runs Sunday against Indiana as the two teams split a doubleheader in Bloomington. The Illini had six of those homers in the first game as they routed the Hoosiers, 11-1 in five innings. In the second contest, Angelena Mexicano's two home runs weren't enough as Indiana rallied to win 6-5. The Illini move to 23-14 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten. Indiana is 18-16, 1-3.
The home run totals continue to rise for Illinois who now has 59 long balls in 47 games. Three Illini players reached double digits in home runs this season by adding to their total on Sunday. Lana Armstrong hit her 11th of the year in the opener, now tied with Mexicano for the team lead. Shanna Diller also hit her tenth homer in the first game. This marks the first time in Illinois history that three players have reached that mark. Jenna Hall holds the single-season record of 13.
Ten of the 11 Illini runs in the first game were via the home runs. Sydney Lisy hit home runs to both fields in the game. She got the barrage started with a solo shot in the top of the second. Shanna Diller hit a three-run blast to left to make it 4-0 Illinois.
The Illini added three more runs in the third on Sarah Bryers second homer of the year, a three-run blast to straight away center field. Armstrong, Kisten Martin and Lisy each added solo home runs in the next two innings, and the Illini scored on a wild pitch.
The second game started much the way the first had ended with the Illini jumping to a 4-0 lead after two innings. Martin came through with a clutch two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first and Mexicano delivered a three-run home run with Bryers and Hope Howell aboard in the bottom of the second.
The Illini couldn't keep the pressure on, however, committing three errors defensively and leaving 12 runners on base. Illinois pitchers also combined to walk six. The Illini left the bases loaded three times, including the first when they had a chance to add to their lead.
Indiana scored two unearned runs in the fourth, and then tied the game on Rachel Terry's two-run home run in the fifth. Illinois came right back, however with a line-drive home run from Mexicano in the bottom of the fifth to give the Illini the lead back at 5-4.
Claire DeVreese came into the game in relief and held the Hoosiers at bay in the fifth and sixth, posting back-to-back strikeouts. Terry struck again, however, in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run to center to put IU in front 6-5.
In the bottom of the seventh, Illinois loaded the bases with two outs on walks to Lisy and Mexicano and a single from Bryers, setting up a dramatic moment. Diller sent a hard-hit ball to right, slicing away from Hoosier right fielder Jennifer Gluekert, who made a remarkable diving catch to end the game.
Illinois hosts Western Illinois at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Eichelberger Field before returning to the road with a pair of games at Wisconsin and Minnesota next weekend.
