Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois
Late-Game Rally Pushes Illinois over Indiana, 6-5
4/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2006
Box Score
URBANA, Ill. - The Indiana softball team came out firing against Illinois, but a costly grand slam proved too much for the Hoosiers to overcome as the Fighting Illini defeated Indiana, 6-5, on April 16 at Eichelberger Field. Freshman second baseman Sarah Padove carried the load offensively for the Hoosiers, registering three RBI and going 2-for-4 with one home run.
Senior right fielder Lauren Hines went 2-for-3 in the effort with one RBI and a homer, while freshman Stephanie Pellerito registered a 3-for-4 effort and one run in the loss.
Despite a 12-8 hitting advantage in favor of the Hoosiers, a costly four-run fifth inning by Illinois became too much for Indiana to overcome.
With the loss, Indiana fell to 20-20-1 and 3-8 in Big Ten action, while Illinois improved to 19-24 and 5-6 in league affairs.
The Hoosiers came out of the starting blocks firing, as the first four up to the plate for IU reached base. Remaining hot from the plate, Padove rocketed a two-run homer over the left field wall to put Indiana on the board first, 2-0. The Illini finally escaped the inning without any further damage on a groundout to the shortstop.
In the top of the second, Indiana returned to scoring action with two more runs in the inning. Indiana's scores came courtesy of a leadoff homer by Hines, while junior first baseman/catcher Rachel Terry reached on a walk. Terry advanced through the base path on a fly out to left field and went home on single through the right side by Padove.
With three innings in the book, Indiana held a 4-0 advantage.
Senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado, who started in the circle for IU, threw a no-hitter through 2 2/3 innings before handing over the job to senior pitcher Megan Roark. Roark took over with two outs in the bottom of the third, while Bogado finished the contest with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fourth, Illinois finally recorded its first two runs of the afternoon behind four hits in the frame. The Fighting Illini would then take the lead in their half of the fifth off a grand slam over the right field fence. The blast gave Illinois the edge, 6-4.
The Hoosiers, however, would not let up as they continued to out-hit the Illini 11-7 going into the top of the sixth. In the frame, Pellerito notched her second hit of the game, doubling to left center to leadoff. After a sacrifice bunt moved Pellerito to third, Padove snuck a hit through the right side to chip in her third RBI of the game. With the score, Indiana ended the bottom of the fifth down by one.
Despite a strong batting effort and four strikeouts by Roark, the Illini held onto the one-run lead to win, 6-5.
The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled after inlcement weather and rain forced the contest to be called after two innings.
