2001 Big Ten Softball Tournament -- Game 8
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, May 11 -- 5 p.m. -- Game 8
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: 2001 Big Ten Softball Tournament (Game 8)
Result: Illinois 4, Penn State 1
Records: Illinois (49-22), Penn State (32-26)
Next Illinois Game: Saturday, May 12 -- vs. Iowa, Noon
Next Penn State Game: PSU eliminated from tournament with 2-2 record
Nevard, O'Connell Lead Fighting Illini Past Penn State
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There are just three teams left in the Big Ten Softball Tournament with one day remaining after No. 4 seed Illinois defeated No. 5 seed Penn State 4-1 Friday afternoon (May 11) at Alumni Field. Illinois starter Kathryn Nevard won her 26th game of the year as she went seven complete innings and allowed one run on just two hits. The win means Illinois faces No. 2 seed Iowa tomorrow at noon, with the winner earning the right to play Michigan for the tournament title at 2:30 p.m. in a game televised by Fox Sports Chicago.
Illinois scored all the runs Nevard would need in a two-run first inning that was aided by a Penn State error. Fighting Illini third baseman Erin Jones reached on an error with one out and moved over to third on a single by shortstop Lindsey Hamma. Hamma moved to second on a groundout, which left a runner in scoring position with two outs. Second baseman Katie O'Connell delivered two of her game-high three RBI with a single up the middle that scored both Jones and Hamma.
O'Connell was also at the top of her game defensively as she made a run-saving play ranging far to her left for the final out of the bottom of the first to keep Penn State off the board. Illinois added to its lead in the second when leadoff hitter Erin Montgomery drilled a two-out double down the leftfield line to score centerfielder Sarah Baumgartner, who had single and stolen second.
After Nevard set down Penn State in order in the second, O'Connell again took center stage with a solo home run over the leftfield fence as Illinois scored for the third straight inning with two outs. O'Connell was the only player on either side to collect two hits in the game.
Penn State struck for its only run in the bottom of the fourth. O'Connell's counterpart at second base, Allison Mendelin, led off with a double and moved to third on a single off the bat of Penn State cleanup hitter Megan Humphrey. It was O'Connell, however, who stepped in to slow down the rally as she took a groundball from Penn State first baseman Erin Norton and tagged Humphrey before completing the toss to first base for the double play. Medelin scored on the play, but that would be it for the Nittany Lions as Nevard found her groove and retired the final 11 batters she faced, including 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh.
The win runs Illinois' mark to 49-22, while Penn State finishes its season 32-26.
Q U O T E S
Penn State Head Coach Robin Petrini
"It was a heartbreaking loss. The team was emotionally spent from the Ohio State game and we could not get anything started. Illinois was very motivated and they knew what was on the line. They pretty much sealed the deal for postseason play."
N O T E S
Illinois will battle Iowa tomorrow at noon for the Fighting Illini's first-ever berth into the Big Ten Softball Tournament championship game. Illinois is in just its second season of softball and first season in the Big Ten.
Katie O'Connell's home run was the third of the tournament. Kristine Himes of Ohio State and Kim Bugel of Michigan hit the other two.
The win is Illinois' first this season over Penn State. The Nittany Lions held a 3-0 lead and had outscored Illinois 17-3 in the three previous meetings this season, including a 6-1 win yesterday in game two of the tournament.
