Feb. 27, 2010
Game 13: Illinois-Radford Box Score
Game 14: Illinois-Virginia Tech Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga. - Illinois softball continued to make a name for itself on Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, tallying two more wins to improve to 13-1 for the season at a tournament that draws some of the top teams in the nation. The Orange and Blue started the day off by pounding Radford 10-0 in five innings, then earned a hard-fought 10-5 win over Virginia Tech.
Illinois has now won seven straight and is posting a team batting average of .369 at the Leadoff Classic, outscoring opponents 36-10 and averaging nine runs per game.
"We came out swinging today in both games," associate head coach Donna DiBiase said. "Both the teams we faced today have a very good offense, so we knew we had to come out and score early, and that's what we were able to do. Having the kind of balance we have throughout our lineup makes us an explosive offensive team. Danielle Zymkowitz and Hope Howell have been great leaders for us throughout the season. Having players pulling the team together like that contributes to us being a very resilient team."
Illinois 10, Radford 0 (5)
The Illini used an eight-run second inning and three home runs to power to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Radford (1-2) in their first game of the day. Juniors Ashley Conrad, Audrey Gallien and Hollie Pinchback all homered for the Orange and Blue, while freshman Pepper Gay earned the shutout win on the mound to improve to 6-0 on the season. Gay also struck out a career-best seven batters.
Illinois scored twice in the first inning off of Radford starter Kellie Snooks, with senior Hope Howell getting things started with a single to right field. Pinchback followed with her first homer of the year, a drive to center that put the Illini up 2-0.
Gay allowed three walks in the bottom of the first, as Radford loaded the bases with two outs. The freshman got out of the jam, however, as Highlanders outfielder Hope Creasey popped up in the next at-bat.
The Illini had their biggest inning of 2010 in the second, scoring eight runs. Redshirt freshman Jessica Davis and sophomore Kelley Wedel led off with back-to-back singles up the middle. Conrad then hit her fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot to center field to put Illinois up 5-0. Sophomore Danielle Vaji and junior Danielle Zymkowitz kept the inning going, as both drew walks and then scored on a Pinchback single to right field to push the lead to 7-0. Gallien continued the rally with a two-run homer to right field off of Radford reliever Heather Paquette, her fourth long ball of the season. The catcher's drive to right field scored Pinchback, putting Illinois up 9-0. The Orange and Blue's 10th run of the inning came on an RBI double by Wedel to left field, scoring pinch runner Nicole Linares.
Gay pitched a solid second inning, allowing a hit and an error but striking out three Radford batters swinging. The freshman carried her momentum to the third, striking out the first two Highlanders batters and popping up the next for a quick 1-2-3 inning. Radford picked up two singles in the fourth with one out, but were unable to execute as the Highlanders went out on a fielders choice and ground-out.
Illinois had no hits after their eight-run second inning, but loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs. Wedel was hit by a pitch, Zymkowitz reached on a fielding error and Howell walked, but the Illini were unable to add to their 10-run lead.
Illinois 10, Virginia Tech 5
The Illini improved to 13-1 on the season with a 10-5 victory over Virginia Tech (4-9), crawling back from a four-run deficit. Sophomore Meredith Hackett was 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, while Zymkowitz, Howell and Wedel each tallied two hits. Sophomore pitcher Monica Perry threw all seven innings for the win, striking out five and giving up one earned run to improve to 6-1 on the year.
The Illini found themselves in an unfamiliar position early on, as the Hokies took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Virginia Tech second baseman Bkaye Smith led off by reaching on a fielding error, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Another Illini error got Courtney Liddle on base, and a walk loaded the bases for Virginia Tech. Whitney Davis followed with a single to left center, scoring two runs to put the Hokies on the board 2-0. Virginia Tech then scored twice more on a single by Ashton Ward to lead 4-0.
Illinois got a run back in the first, as Zymkowitz, Pinchback and Gallien all drew walks off of Virginia Tech starter Kenzie Roark, with Zymkowitz scoring on a wild pitch.
"Coach Sullivan always tells the team to get a little bit back at a time when we get down early," DiBiase said. "We were able to grab ahold of the momentum gradually, putting pressure on them every inning."
The Orange and Blue offense heated up in the second, tallying five hits and scoring four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Pinch runner Katie Lutes came in for Hackett after she led off with a single through the left side. Vaji then hit in Lutes with a single to right field to make the score 4-2 in favor of the Hokies. Zymkowitz and Howell followed with back-to-back singles, with Zymkowitz coming around to score on a Virginia Tech error. Gallien gave Illinois the 5-4 lead with a double to left center that scored Pinchback and Howell.
The Hokies threatened in the top of the third with two singles to start the inning, but the Illini defense led by Davis turned a double play and Perry drew a pop-out to get out of the jam unscathed. Zymkowitz added another Illinois run in the bottom of the third, singling home Hackett to give her team a 6-4 lead.
Virginia Tech threatened to have a big inning in the fifth with runners on first and second and one out after a single and hit batter. Hokies outfielder Richelle McGarva was then caught stealing, but Kristen Graham ripped a single up the middle that scored a run and cut the Illinois lead to 6-5. Perry struck out the next batter swinging, preventing Virginia Tech from doing any more damage.
In the Illini's fifth, Hackett hit a one-out double down the right field line, then scored Illinois' seventh run of the game on a Conrad ground-out and Hokies' fielding error. The Orange and Blue were able to open the game up in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 10-5 lead. Wedel, Hackett and Conrad each hit RBI singles with two outs to put the game out of reach and give Illinois its 13th victory of the season.
Up Next: Illinois plays its fifth and final game at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday, facing Arkansas (8-5) at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT. The Illini will be aiming for their eighth consecutive win.
