University of Minnesota Athletics
Big First Inning Dooms Minnesota as Illinois Sweeps Softball Series
4/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Score/Play-by-play
Champaign, Ill. – The University of Minnesota softball team lost 12-1 in five innings today at Illinois, giving up 15 hits as UI swept the Golden Gophers in Champaign, Ill. With the loss, Minnesota fell to 30- 15-1 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten. The 11-run loss was UM’s worst of the season and the first five-inning defeat of the year.
Illinois jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead with nine hits and one Golden Gopher error. Minnesota did not get the first out until UI was up 6- 0. The Blue and Orange batted through the order, knocking out seven singles and two doubles for the big first inning. Starter Angie Recknor allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits, while reliever Lyn Peyer gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits.
The Golden Gophers got one run back in the bottom of the second on three hits and one UI error. Jordanne Nygren and Veronica Roberts singled to begin the inning and moved to second and third on a Hailee Nanchy fielder’s choice and an error by the third baseman. After a force-out at home on a Recknor grounder, catcher Anne Thul singled to third to bring home Roberts with the unearned run.
Illinois took the run right back in the second inning on a hit and a UM error to take a 9-1 lead. The run was unearned as Roberts dropped the potential third out on a fly to right field. UI added another marker in the third inning for the 10th run, using two hits for the 10-1 lead. Illinois made it 12-1 in the top of the fifth inning with a single, double and wild pitch for the 11-run lead.
Recknor took the loss to fall to 15-6 on the season, while Sherri Taylor earned the victory with two strikeouts and four hits allowed to improve to 7-3.
The Golden Gophers close out the road portion of their schedule tomorrow at Northwestern in a noon doubleheader Evanston, Ill.
