2/14-UI softball edges Hofstra, falls to No. 10 Arizona

TAMPA - The Illinois softball team took an early lead and never looked back against the Hofstra Pride (1-1), picking up a 2-1 victory on Saturday morning at the USF Wilson Tournament. The Illini (5-3) battled the No. 12/10 Arizona Wildcats (5-2) to the wire before falling, 7-4, in the second game of the day. "We have a game plan to come out aggressively and we did a really nice job of that in first inning of both games," head coach Terri Sullivan said. "Now like most teams at this point, were looking for consistency throughout the game. Our players like to test themselves on that in practice and we just have to carry that out through seven innings, on both the physical and mental sides of the game. Id like to see us win more innings and were on our way to doing that consistently." Illinois came out aggressively in the opening game of the day, notching a run in the first inning thanks to a pair of doubles. Second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz led off with a double and moved to third on a throwing error, then scored on rightfielder Hope Howells two-bagger to right-center. Zymkowitz finished the day 4-for-6 with two runs. "Its one thing to have your opponents make mistakes and another to take advantage of them," Sullivan said. "Teams that are focused and confident take advantage. Were showing signs of being able to that. You can throw anything at our team and theyre ready for it. Thats going to be a strength as we progress through our season." The Illini made it 2-0 in the second inning thanks to a key two-out hit from third baseman Kelley Wedel. After shortstop Ashley Conrad was issued a walk and stole second, she sped home on Kelley Wedels base-knock to right field. Although Hofstra threatened to get on the board in the second thanks to three hits that loaded the bases, Illini pitcher Monica Perry and the Orange and Blue defense worked out of the jam to hold the Pride scoreless until the sixth. Designated player Joanna Kralowetz led off with a single and worked her way to third after two more base-hits then scored on a wild pitch. Hofstra stranded two base-runners in the inning and left the bases loaded in the seventh, as Perry and the defense stepped up late in the game to shut down the Pride for the 2-1 win. "What stood out the most from both pitchers today was their ability to handle pressure in the game with runners on," Sullivan said. "They came up with big pitches at the right time. We saw strikeouts or much-needed groundouts without allowing our opponents to advance. Hofstra is really well-coached and well-balanced, so Ashley did a good job keeping them off-balance and I think Monica is on her way to becoming a horse for us in the circle." Perry earned her first save of the season, while Ashley Wright (2-1) picked up the win. Wright tossed five and a third innings, allowing just one run on nine hits while fanning four and issuing no walks. The Illini came out swinging in the second game against Arizona, quickly putting up three runs in the first inning. Zymkowitz led off with a base-knock then centerfielder Jamie Adishian and Howell made it three singles in a row to start the game. Zymkowitz and Adishian each scored on an error, while Wedel tagged another key hit to drive in Howell and make it 3-0. Perry held the Wildcats hitless until the fourth when they battled back to tie the game. Arizona took a pair of walks and followed them with back-to-back singles to plate three runs. Illinois answered in the bottom of the fourth with a run to re-take the lead. Wedel reached base for the third time on the day, this time on a hit-by-pitch. After catcher Linnea Detick slugged a double to the gap in left-center to put runners at the corners, Wedel slid home on a wild pitch for the 4-3 advantage. The two teams battled through the fifth with the score still 4-3 before the Wildcats used two solo home runs in the sixth to go back on top. Arizona tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, and the Illini were unable to overcome the deficit despite a tough battle against the No. 12 team in the nation. Perry (3-2) took the loss, going six innings with five runs on six hits while striking out five. Wright tossed the final inning, allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Illinois wraps up the USF Wilson Tournament on Sunday against Marshall. The Illini and Thundering Herd will square off at 8 a.m. (CT).