March 4, 2011
Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The University of Illinois softball team earned a come-from-behind victory, 3-1, over the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of Friday's doubleheader. The Illini manufactured all three runs in the sixth inning on clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning to earn their seventh victory of the season.
"I think we were aggressive when we put runners on base," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said. "Our running game helped us to put pressure on both team's pitchers today."
Maryland scratched out its only run of the contest in the third inning to take an early lead, 1-0. The Terrapins used three singles to load the bases before a groundout by Marisha Branson plated Vangie Galindo from third base.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Illini grabbed the lead as Jessica Davis led off the inning with a base hit to left field and Danielle Vaji followed with a bunt single down the third base line. Jenna Mychko used a sacrifice bunt back to the circle to move Vaji and Davis to second and third, respectively. Audrey Gallien stepped to the plate next, delivering a single to third base to plate Davis and tie the game at 1-1.
Ashley Conrad followed Gallien, falling behind in the count after two quick strikes by Maryland reliever Kendra Knight. On the next pitch, Conrad dropped down a perfect bunt toward the mound as Vaji raced home from third to break the tie. When Conrad reached first, the Orland Park, Ill., native took a wide turn and headed toward second base. The Sandburg graduate's aggressive base running drew the attention of the Maryland infield as Nikki Simpson sprinted for home, sliding in just before Terrapins' catcher Samantha Mallory applied the tag.
"We practiced that type of play throughout the week," Sullivan said. "She [Ashley Conrad] executed it perfectly and I have the faith in her to come up and make the play when we need one."
Pepper Gay worked a complete game for the Illini, spreading eight hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out two.
"She [Pepper Gay] was really spinning the ball," Sullivan said. "She was hitting her spots as well. Both of those are strengths of Pepper's pitching and I thought she did an excellent job of controlling both sides of the plate."
Up Next: The Illini continue play at the ESPN Citrus Class with a doubleheader on Saturday. First up, the Orange and Blue will face Fordham for an 8 a.m. CT game broadcast on ESPN3.com. Illinois will follow with a game against the Longwood. First pitch against Longwood will be at approximately 2 p.m. CT.
