Hawkeyes Fall to Illinois, 2-0

May 8, 2004

Box Score

URBANA, IL – The University of Iowa softball team was defeated by the University of Illinois, 2-0, Saturday at Eichelberger Field. The Hawkeyes fall to 38-20 with a 14-5 mark in the Big Ten, while Illinois is 38-18-1 with a 13-6 conference mark.

The game was a classic Big Ten pitching dual between Lisa Birocci and Illinois’ Amanda Fortune. Both pitchers threw complete games, with Birocci allowing four hits and striking out seven and Fortune giving up five hits and striking out six.

All nine hits in the game were singles.

The only runs of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Fighting Illini using two walks and a single to load the bases for Katie O’Connell, who ripped a two-run single to give Illinois a 2-0 lead.

Iowa had some chances to break onto the scoreboard, leaving a runner on third in the top of the first and the bases loaded in the top third.

Amanda Hentges and Stacy May each had a pair of hits for Iowa, while Emily Gerlick was 1-for-3.

Both teams will wrap-up the Big Ten Regular season with a rematch tomorrow at Noon. If Iowa wins, they will finish in second place by themselves. If Illinois wins, the two teams will be tied for second place in the conference, but the Fighting Illini will be awarded the No. 2 seed at the Big Ten Tournament due to a better head-to-head record.

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