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Softball
Armstrong, Illini Walk-Off with Win Again to Complete Sweep of No. 11 Northwestern
April 26, 2009
URBANA, Ill. - The 2009 senior class went out with a bang in their final home game, as senior catcher Lana Armstrong smashed a walk-off home run to propel the Illinois softball team to a 9-8 comeback victory to complete the sweep of the No. 11/7 Northwestern Wildcats (28-11, 12-4 Big Ten) on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Eichelberger Field. The Illini (26-14, 9-6 Big Ten) become the first Big Ten team to sweep Northwestern this season. It also marks the first time since 2001 the Orange and Blue have swept the Wildcats. It was déjà vu in the seventh for Illinois, as Armstrong's walk-off marked back-to-back game-ending homers against Northwestern, with another senior, Katrina Ross, delivering the walk-off in Saturday's contest. Ross went deep again Sunday, knocking her seventh of the season and finishing the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs. She has driven in a career-high 25 runs and is tied for the team lead with seven long balls. "You couldn't write a better story than having Katrina Ross yesterday hitting a walk-off, and then today another senior Lana Armstrong do the same thing," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said. "She, and the team, showed a lot of resiliency, and this was just a terrific series." Illini pitcher Monica Perry (21-12) went all seven innings for the Orange and Blue, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out three. Northwestern reliever Jessica Smith (1-2) took the loss for the second day in a row, allowing three runs on six hits in three innings of work. Starter Lauren Delaney exited in the fourth after giving up five runs. Illinois got down early after Northwestern jumped out to a 6-0 lead through the first three innings, but the Illini would use the middle innings to rally and tie it at 6-6. "We have come from behind a lot, and we have put ourselves in a hole with our backs against the wall," Sullivan said. "We know our team has it in them, it's just that time of year you have to get your best performances." In the third inning, Delaney walked three consecutive batters, loading the bases for rightfielder Hope Howell, whose double just missed clearing the fence, bouncing off the top rail to drive in two runners. Ross added a sacrifice fly to bring in one more run, cutting the Wildcat lead to 6-3 after three. After Delaney walked two more in the fourth, shortstop Ashley Conrad drove the count full before blasting the game-tying three-run homer that pelted the scoreboard. Conrad once again played a key role, going 1-for-1 with two runs scored and a crucial sacrifice bunt in the sixth that eventually led to a run. The Orange and Blue took their first lead of the game when Ross belted Illinois' second home run of the day to give the Illini a 7-6 lead in the fifth. Northwestern responded in the sixth when first baseman Adrienne Monka hit a two-run shot to put the Wildcats back on top at 8-7. The Illini battled back again in the sixth, as centerfield Jamie Adishian led off the inning with a single and second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz followed two batters later with a double to put runners at second and third. Pinch-hitter Audrey Gallien delivered a key single to right field, plating Adishian and knotting the score at 8-8.
With one out in the seventh, Armstrong took an 0-1 pitch and bashed it over the wall in centerfield for her sixth home run of the season to give Illinois their second comeback victory in as many days and complete the sweep of Northwestern. The Illini continue Big Ten play with a roadtrip Wednesday, April 29, with a doubleheader at Purdue. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT). |
