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Softball Earns Split With Ball State
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March 21, 2000
MUNCIE, IND. - Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan found out a little bit about the character of her young team. After losing a heartbreaker, 3-2 at Ball State and falling behind 5-1 in the second game of the doubleheader, the Illini rebounded to take the nightcap, 9-6. "I don't know too many teams that would have kept the composure and show the character that this team did today," said Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "We gained a reputation as a feisty team on our spring break trip."
The game marked the first northern games for the first-year program after posting a 5-9 mark in a 10-day trip to South Carolina. Sophomore left-fielder Jean Jones (2 for 4) highlighted a six-run fourth inning for Illinois with a two-out, base clearing three-run triple. Illinois pounded out 12 hits in all off Ball State's Samantha Bushy (1-4) and reliever Courtney Winger. "We recognized Jean had some power, she needed to get more at-bats," said Sullivan. "There's nobody else I'd rather have up in that situation."
Freshman right fielder Kim Hofert (2 for 5, 2 RBI), sophomore Heather Black (3 of 3, 3RBI), and freshman shortstop Laura Cannizzo (2 for 3, 3 runs) each had multiple-hit games. Freshman Jessica Ceisel (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win, holding the Cardinals at bay in the final two-thirds of the third inning and giving her team a chance to rally in the fourth. Junior Annie Rymer, who inherited two base runners in the seventh, retired the side to record the save. "Jess does an outstanding job of not worrying about what's out there already," said Sullivan. "We've told our relief pitchers they have to be ready."
Illinois sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth. Black got the rally going with a single to left, scoring both Cannizzo and Anitra White. With two outs, Hofert singled home Black to continue the inning and cut the margin to just 5-4. Jones big hit gave the Illini the lead for good, 7-5. Illinois added an insurance run in the fifth, then another run on an RBI single by Hofert in the seventh. "We could see before the season that we were going to be a solid offensive team," Sullivan said. "We worked really hard on situational hitting. I think we have a quality line up 1-9."
While the teams combined for 24 hits in the second game, the opener, by contrast was more of a pitcher's duel. Illinois pitcher Pam Almanza scatted three hits in the first six innings, while holding the hosts scoreless. But Ball State (6-12) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to eke out the win. Ball State's Kasey Angulo, Ruth Hjelmeland, and Roshelle Lee each singled, before Amy Ellis drove home the game's tying and winning runs with a double to left center.
Illinois scored single runs in the second and fifth. Third baseman Jenny Floyd (2 for 3) doubled home Lori Schaefer in the second. Second baseman Lindsey Creydt doubled in Gina Pasquesi in the fifth.
Despite being in its first year, the Illini (6-10) have beaten some established programs. They will try to continue that when they return to action this weekend at the Indiana State Tournament. "This team is proud to be playing for the University of Illinois," Sullivan added. "They have worked hard for such a long period of time. This is the fun part for them."
