April 6, 2011
Box Score
URBANA, Ill. - The University of Illinois Softball squad (16-14 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) dropped the second meeting of the season with Illinois State, 10-6, behind power hitting from the Redbirds. Jessica Davis and Audrey Gallien each notched a pair of hits on the game while Hollie Pinchback and Meredith Hackett earned two RBIs each.
"This game mirrors the last one we played against Illinois State," said Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan in reference to the Illini's 10-7 loss to the Redbirds on March 13. "We have to give credit to Illinois State's offense. [Illinois starting pitcher] Pepper [Gay] was behind in the count at times, let runners get on base and the Illinois State lineup took advantage of pitches that were over the plate. They have an explosive offense and we knew we were going to have to match their hitting. We started doing that but it was just too late."
Illinois State tallied early in the contest, opening the first inning with one run to earn a 1-0 lead. After Gay retired Kara Nelson on a soft line drive to second for the first out of the game, Lauren Kellar connected for a solo home run to break the scoreless tie. Abby Olson and Elizabeth Kay drew walks to put runners on first and second following the homer; however, Gay worked out of trouble by striking out Liz Andrews swinging and inducing a routine groundout by Lauren Canopy.
The Redbirds (21-11, 7-1 MVC) extended their lead in the third inning with six more runs to earn a 7-0 advantage. Lauren Andrews connected with the bases loaded, sending a pitch over the right-center field fence for a grand slam. After two more batters reached, Jhavon Hamilton tripled to right-center field to total a seven run advantage. Illinois State tallied two more in the fourth to take a nine run lead into the bottom of the inning. Olson walked with one out and Kay followed with a homer to left field.
The Illini bats responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Redbirds advantage to 9-4. Gallien opened the inning with a single while, one batter later, Ashley Conrad walked to put runners on first and second. Danielle Zymkowitz loaded the bases with an infield single before Pinchback singled to right field to bring two runs in. Now down 9-2 with runners on the corners, Illinois State reliever Taylor Baxter plated Zymkowitz with an illegal pitch, which also advanced Pinchback to second. Hackett walked in the following at bat before Davis singled to load the bases for the second time in the frame. One batter later, another illegal pitch moved the runners up one bag, with Pinchback scoring the fourth Illinois run on the play.
After Illinois State added its 10th run in the sixth, the Illini attempted a furious last-frame comeback against Baxter. Pinchback led off the frame with a walk and Hackett followed with her team-leading seventh homer of the season, her second home run in as many games. One batter later, Kelley Wedel walked; however, consecutive fly outs by Vaji and Gallien ended the threat.
Gay was tagged with the loss in the circle, falling to 10-9 on the season after giving up seven earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. Jackie Guy took to the circle in relief of Gay in the third inning, closing the game with six strikeouts in 4.1 frames.
Up Next: The Illini travel to Ohio State (10-21, 2-2) for a game each against the Buckeyes on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m. CT.
