Feb. 21, 2015Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON, Texas - Illinois' win-streak was halted by New Mexico at four games as the Lobos topped the Illini 12-4 in Saturday's 10 a.m. contest. The Orange and Blue are now 5-8 overall and have a 2-1 slate this weekend in Houston.
"We didn't come out very strong today and got down big early," stated head coach Terri Sullivan. "The team had zero doubt that we couldn't chip away at the lead, however, we went ahead and loaded the bases three times but weren't getting the big hits that we did yesterday. In that situation, our defense and pitching need to be better."
New Mexico plated three runs in the opening frame of the game to take a lead they would not relinquish. Ruby Rivera registered a single in the bottom of the inning to drive in Allie Bauch, and extended her hitting streak to nine games. Rivera accounted for the pair of Illinois RBIs in the contest and three of Illinois' seven hits.
In the top of the second inning, New Mexico brought in seven runs to jump out to a 10-1 lead. Breanna Wonderly started on the mound for the Illini and gave up four runs before being relieved by Jade Vecvanags, who subsequently allowed six runs over the next two-thirds of an inning. At that point, Sullivan went to the bullpen and brought Kate Giddens to the mound for her first action in Houston. Giddens allowed just two runs, neither earned, over the next five and one-third innings.
Illinois brought two runners around in the bottom of the second frame, but would not be able to recover from the Lobos' big inning. The Illini finished the inning with three runners left on base.
Both sides went scoreless in the third inning but plated one runner in the fourth. In the inning, both the Lobos and Illini left the bases loaded. Run production from both dugouts came to a near stand-still with the only run registered over the final three innings belongs to New Mexico to make the final scoreboard reading of 12-4.
Sullivan nearly cleared the bench in the game as 18 Illini saw action. At the conclusion of the game, just three starters were still on the field.
The Illini stranded 10 runners on base in the outing to New Mexico's 14 and were out-hit by a 16-7 margin.
ILLINOIS VS. TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
In the second contest of the doubleheader, Illinois matched up against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Due to large amounts of rain and poor field conditions, the remainder of the game will be played out Sunday, morning at 9 a.m. The Islanders were in possession of a 6-1 lead over Illinois in the top of the fourth inning when the postponement call was made.
Next up: Sunday will begin at 9 a.m. with Illinois finishing its contest with the Islanders followed by a rolling schedule of all games. The Illini were originally slated for an 11:30 a.m. CST contest against the host, Houston.
