April 13, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -
The Northwestern softball team fell to Illinois, 4-2 and 8-2, on Friday in Champaign, Ill. The Fighting Illini (37-17, 5-5) scored runs in the first inning of both games to take early leads. The Wildcats (13-17, 4-6) scored both of their runs in each game in the fourth inning.
In game one, Illinois scored all four of their runs in the first inning. The 'Cats attempted a comeback in the fourth inning, when freshman Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) singled with two outs. Junior Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik) then tripled Leto home, and scored herself on an Illini throwing error. The Wildcat bats were cold other than that, though, tallying just three hits to Illinois' seven. Sophomore Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harputh Hall) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four.
Game Two opened much the same as the first game, with Illinois scoring three runs in the first inning. The Fighting Illini then added four runs in the second and one in the third for the 8-2 victory.
The 'Cats once again scored two runs in the fourth inning, this time off a double from sophomore Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) that scored Jancic. Later in the inning, freshman J.C. Kira (Honolulu, Hawaii/Saint Francis) scored on an error by the Illini catcher. Schwendimann pitched seven innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and striking out seven. The 'Cats tallied eight hits in the nightcap, led by sophomore Rane Gunderson (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) who went 2-for-3.
The 'Cats fall to 13-17 overall and 4-6 in the Big Ten. They are next in action Wednesday when they travel to Loyola for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.