Defense does it for Illinois
Weekend sweep at Valpo features extra-inning heroics

by Lisa Miller
Daily Illini sports reporter

Putting runs on the board might seem to be what wins softball games. But for the Illini, it's defensive skill.

The Valparaiso Crusaders fell prey to the Illini defense, as Illinois swept a pair of games at Valparaiso on Friday.

"Defense was the key behind every pitch that was thrown. We executed it very well," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said.

Illinois (12-14) needed extra innings to pull out its 3-2 victory in the first game. The Illini jumped out to an early lead, scoring their first run during the first inning on a Valparaiso error. Sophomore rightfielder Lori Schaeffer singled home the run. Freshman third baseman Jenny Floyd singled in freshman shortstop Laura Cannizzo, giving the Illini the 2-0 lead.

Freshman pitcher Pam Almanza allowed just four hits in the game, two of which came in the sixth inning, sending the game into extra innings with the score tied at two.

"Coach (Sullivan) told us that we've played in a couple of games that went extra innings, and we can't worry about that. We just need to play until we got ahead," Schaeffer said.

The Illini did just that, winning on consecutive doubles in the ninth inning from senior catcher Kim Hubbard and Cannizzo.

"Sometimes teams panic when they have the lead and then when it goes into extra innings," Sullivan said. "You can't just roll over and die. You've got more time to play, and you need to look at it like it's a new game."

Sophomore pitcher Heather Black was instrumental in the second victory at Valparaiso, aiding the Illini in the 2-1 win. She faced the minimum number of batters through five innings, retiring every batter during innings two through six. Valparaiso scored its only run in the sixth inning.

"I just tried to make them hit grounders," Black said. "I knew I just had to keep going right at them. It felt really good to play again because we hadn't played in a week."

Illinois' long break - since April 2 at Loyola - wasn't obvious as the game began. Freshman centerfielder Kim Hofert and Cannizzo teamed up in the first inning to stop Valparaiso's Tricia Speziale from turning a double into a triple.

Schaeffer rallied the offense when she hit a single that scored two Illini.

"Valpo had the tying run on at the end of the second game, and our defense was what helped pull out the win," Sullivan said.

Cannizzo was the force behind the out when she made consecutive plays at short to keep the tying run from scoring.

The Illini will resume play on April 24 when they travel to Southern Illinois.