Game 9: Illinois 3, Houston 2
5/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 21, 2004
WACO, Texas - Second-seeded Illinois remained alive in the NCAA Softball Championships with a 3-2 win over Houston in action at Getterman Stadium. With the win, Illinois improves to 43-20-1 and moves on to face the winner of the Seton Hall-North Carolina game at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 22.
The Fighting Illini took the game on the strength of a three run third inning. With one out, Lindsey Hamma hit a RBI single up the middle to score LeeAnn Butcher and give the Illini a 1-0 lead. A Katie O'Connell sacrifice fly made it a two-run game before Elene Planinsek singled to right to score Hamma and give Illinois a three-run cushion.
Illinois starting pitcher Amanda Fortune shut down the Cougars until the seventh when Houston posted two runs to make the score close. The Cougars scored when Melissa Lynch and Brandi Clark scored on an Arelis Ferreris sacrifice fly deep in the right field corner.
Fortune managed to retire the next batter, however, as she improved to 29-10 on the season. In the complete game win, Fortune allowed only five hits and two runs while striking out two.
Jamie Falco took the loss for Houston, falling to 8-3 on the year as the Cougars finished the season with a record of 39-25.
Hamma and Butcher led the attack for the Fighting Illini as each collected two hits and scored a run in the win.
