April 21, 2007
Box Score
Urbana, Ill. - In an evenly matched game, Ohio State (26-14, 7-1) defeated Illinois (26-18, 5-5) by one run, 4-3. The Big Ten leading Buckeyes beat the Illini for the second straight day as senior pitcher Jamee Juarez struck out eleven. The Orange and Blue battled back from an early deficit, but a late inning homerun gave the Buckeyes the victory.
Freshman pitcher Vicky Brown (15-7) struggled in the first inning for Illinois. After a walk, a single, and a hit by pitch, Courtney Pruner of the Buckeyes singled home two runs to give Ohio State the early 2-0 lead.
Juarez started off the game by striking out five of the first eight Illinois batters. In the third, junior shortstop Angelena Mexicano (2-4, 2 runs, HR, RBI) homered off Juarez to make the score 2-1. Mexicano's home run was her fifteenth on the year, which at the time tied her for the team lead with fellow junior Shanna Diller.
Freshman catcher Sam Marder of the Buckeyes led off the third inning with a solo homerun to make it 3-1. Illinois' Brown settled down after the third and kept the Illini close.
Down 3-1 going into the fifth, the Illini showed their resiliency. Mexicano singled with one out, which brought up Shanna Diller. Diller belted the Juarez offering over the center field wall to tie the game up 3-3. Diller increased the Illinois single season homerun record to sixteen with her two-run shot.
Juarez helped her own cause as she led off the sixth inning for the Buckeyes with a solo homerun to left center putting Ohio State up 4-3. Brown retired the next three batters to finish the day with five strikeouts while giving up seven hits.
Freshman right fielder Hope Howell led off the seventh with a single for the Illini. Sophomore Kim Reeder was then brought in to pitch as Juarez moved to third base. Reeder shut down Illinois to pick up her second save of the season. Mexicano reached first on a fielder's choice as Howell was thrown out at second. Diller fouled out to the catcher for the second out and sophomore catcher Lana Armstrong grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Over Friday and Saturday, Juarez pitched 9.2 innings and struck out twenty two Illini hitters. Sophomore Katrina Ross had two singles in her first ever collegiate start. Senior Sydney Lisy pinch ran in the sixth inning and stole her fifth base of the year.
Illinois hosts a doubleheader against Penn State tomorrow at 11 a.m. The Nittany Lady Lions come to Eichelberger Field with a 21-15 record and tied with the Illini in the Big Ten with a 3-3 conference mark.
