2001 Big Ten Softball Tournament -- Game 5
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, May 11 -- 9:30 a.m. -- Game 5
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: 2001 Big Ten Softball Tournament (Game 5)
Result: Illinois 3, Wisconsin 0
Records: Illinois (48-22), Wisconsin (32-25)
Next Illinois Game: Friday, May 11 -- vs. Penn State/Ohio State winner, 5 p.m.
Next Wisconsin Game: UW eliminated from tournament with 1-2 record
Illini Down Wisconsin with Strong Pitching Performance
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Illinois softball team advanced in the Big Ten Softball Tournament Friday morning (May 11) at Alumni Field, posting a 3-0 shutout against Wisconsin as Amanda Fortune pitched a complete game four-hitter to gain the victory. The Illini (48-22) scored the eventual game-winning run in the third inning, and added insurance runs in the final two innings to advance to tonight's matchup with the Penn State-Ohio State winner at 5 p.m.
Fortune pitched a gem for the Illini, scattering four hits and allowing just three walks. She did not allow a single Badger to advance past second base and was aided in the field by three double plays that ended Wisconsin scoring threats. Fortune picked up her 21st win of the season (21-12) as the Badgers left five runners on base in the game.
Illinois got on the board in the third inning as Erin Montgomery scored from second base on an RBI single from Alicia Hammel. With one out in the inning, Montgomery singled to left field and stole second base.
Illinois added to its lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Katie O'Connell walked to lead off the inning and Lauren Gronski moved O'Connell into scoring position by reaching first base on a bunt. Sarah Baumgartner advanced the runs to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Hammel hit the run-scoring sacrifice fly to leftfield. Karyn Bird kept the threat alive with a two-out single that moved the runner to third, but Montgomery flew out to centerfield for the third out.
Trailing 2-0, Wisconsin's Meghann Reiss drove the ball off the leftfield wall for a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth inning but was stranded as Lindy Barth popped out to the shortstop in short leftfield.
The Fighting Illini tallied an insurance run in the seventh on back-to-back doubles. Lindsey Hamma slapped the ball into the right-center gap and scored the team's third run as Janna Sartini hit an identical shot into the same spot. Sartini advanced to third on Katie O'Connell's groundout but was stranded there.
The Badgers' final threat came as Nicki Starry doubled to right-center with one out in the seventh. Jennifer Grill reached on an error by shortstop Lindsey Hamma. With the tying run coming to the plate in designated hitter Sheena Padovan, Illini pitcher Amanda Fortune got out of the jam as Padovan lined into a game-ending double play to second baseman Katie O'Connell.
Q U O T E S
Wisconsin Head Coach Karen Gallagher
"Obviously we are very disappointed in our season. We started real strong and thought we could make the postseason but it doesn't look like we'll make the NCAA Tournament. We didn't seize the moments and must take it to a new level next year."
Illinois Head Coach Terry Sullivan
"It was a total team effort. It starts with great pitching, defense and timely hitting, and we got all of that today."
N O T E S
Illinois improved to 4-0 against Wisconsin this season.
Lindsey Hamma is 4-for-6 in the tournament, including three hits in today's game and one RBI.
Wisconsin third baseman Meghann Reiss collected two of the team's four hits in today's game. She collected a pair of hits in each of the last three games for the Badgers.
Badgers pitcher Andrea Kirchberg tied her season high with nine hits allowed in the game. The only other time she allowed nine hits was March 9 against Hofstra, a 4-2 victory by Wisconsin.
