Sept. 23, 2011

URBANA, Ill. - The University of Illinois softball team continues its fall ball schedule with a full slate of contests during Illinois Softball Alumni Weekend, wrapping games against collegiate opponents, Heartland and Valparaiso, around Saturday's match-up with Illini softball alumni. On Friday evening, Illinois will host Heartland at 6 p.m., while Sunday's contest against Valparaiso will begin at Noon. Due to the upcoming weekend featuring a home football contest on Saturday afternoon, the Illini will host the annual Illinois Softball Alumni Game at 10 a.m. to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Illinois last played Heartland during 2010 fall ball, coming away victorious, 7-2. Audrey Gallien fueled the offense with three RBIs on a bases-clearing double in the home half of the first inning to put the Illini in front for good. Juniors Jackie Guy and Pepper Gay combined to hold Heartland without a hit following the second inning, with Guy pitching three innings before Gay earned the save in relief by limiting Heartland to one base runner over the last four innings.

Last season's alumni contest was a memorable one, as the alumni came out determined to down the current players and fell one inning shy of their goal. The current players headed the bottom of the seventh down by three runs, but came away victorious without extra innings, 7-3, on the power of a Jessica Davis walk-off grand slam.

Ashley Conrad led off the inning for the Illini with a walk before moving to second on a single by Nikki Simpson. Two batters later, Danielle Zymkowitz singled in Conrad to cut the deficit to 3-1. After a wild pitch move the runners to second and third, Simpson was nearly caught in a run-down when Guy grounded a ball back to the pitcher. Simpson scrambled back to third as Guy reached first safely to load the bases. Meredith Hackett followed with the second walk of the inning to plate Simpson, putting the current Illini within one run of tying before newcomer Laura Tarnawa followed with an RBI ground out to even the score at 3-3. Two batters later, Davis stepped in and crushed the ball to center field to complete the unlikely comeback.

Gay earned the start in the circle for the current Orange and Blue squad, giving up two runs while striking out five over three innings of work. Guy relieved Gay for the fourth, limiting the alumni team to one run through three innings before Tarnawa closed the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Admission at Eichelberger Field is free to all contests this season.