April 9, 2008
Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)
PEORIA, Ill. - Illinois (22-20, 2-4 Big Ten) used a balance of solid pitching and potent offense to sweep a doubleheader against the Bradley Braves, 5-2 and 9-1, at East Side Centre on Wednesday night. Designated player Hollie Pinchback led the way in the first game, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs including a home run, while shortstop Angelena Mexicano mirrored those numbers in the second game.
Starter Ashley Wright (5-5) picked up the game one win against the Braves (11-16, 3-9 MVC), giving up just one earned run in the complete-game performance. After allowing two runs in the first inning, Wright found her groove and gave up just one hit through the final five innings.
The game two win went to Claire DeVreese (15-13), as she allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out four through four innings. Christine Christopoulos came on for the final inning to cap off Illinois' victory.
"That was one of the best complete staff performances we've had," head coach Terri Sullivan said. "Ashley, Claire and Christine threw really well and trusted their pitchers and the defense."
Trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning of game one after Bradley scored a pair of runs in the first on a home run and an error, first baseman Katrina Ross pulled the Illini within a run after taking the first pitch deep for her fifth home run of the season.
"I was pleased that we didn't have a panic mode after the first inning," Sullivan said. "When you get down early and you don't get those runs right back you can get out of your element. It takes one run to jump start it and that's what Katrina did. She really got ahold of that ball. Then our defense and pitching settled down. Wright pitched solid game and kept them off balance after that."
Illinois continued to build its lead in the sixth, adding two more runs. Third baseman Shanna Diller led off the inning with a single and catcher Lana Armstrong followed with a sacrifice bunt but reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Pinchback slapped a double to the gap in left-center to tie the game then centerfielder Sarah Bryers lined a single back to the pitcher to give Illinois a one-run lead.
Pinchback added a pair of insurance runs for the Illini in the seventh on a two-out two-run homer, her fourth of the season, to seal the 5-2 victory.
In game two, Illinois wasted no time jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz led off the game with a single and later scored on Armstrong's RBI-groundout to the pitcher.
"Our plan was to come out and score early in the second game and they carried out that game plan," Sullivan said. "We had contributions from several different players and that always makes the coaching staff happy."
The Orange and Blue added a run in the second after back-to-back singles from Bryers and Ross put a runner in scoring position. Bryers then crossed the plate on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
The Braves battled back in the bottom half of the inning with a home run, but Illinois pulled away with seven runs over the next three innings. Shortstop Angelena Mexicano collected three RBIs on a single and home run, her conference-leading 13th of the season and 40th of her career. Armstrong drove in her second run of the game with an RBI-single in the third, while Zymkowtiz also knocked in a run and Ross's double down the leftfield line added a pair of runs to make it 9-1 for the run-rule victory.
The Illini return home for the weekend to resume Big Ten action at Eichelberger Field at Martin Stadium. Illinois hosts No. 14 Northwestern on Friday at 6 p.m. and the game will air live on the Big Ten Network. The Orange and Blue wrap up the series on Saturday at noon against the Wildcats before rounding out the weekend with a doubleheader against Michigan State on Sunday beginning at noon.
