With the loss, Sacramento State had its season-high four-game winning streak snapped while dropping to 16-12 overall and 1-1 at the tournament. Illinois improved to 13-8 overall and 1-1 at the tournament.

After tallying two runs and three hits in the first three innings of the game, Illinois starter Mary Miller limited the Hornets to just two hits during the final four innings to pick up the win. Miller (8-3) allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in eight innings of work. Sacramento State had runners at first and third base with no outs in the top of the eighth inning, but Miller retired Lindy Winkler, Erin Coyne and Gloria Toledo in succession to end the threat.

The Hornets picked up a run in the first inning on an Coyne RBI-single and one more in the third on a Winkler RBI-single. Sacramento State''s Nos. 1-4 batters finished the game 5-for-13 while the team''s Nos. 5-9 hitters combined to hit 0-for-16. Coyne led Sacramento State with a pair of hits.

Illinois began mounting its comeback in the fourth inning on an RBI-single from Angelena Mexicano and tacked on one more in the sixth inning on an RBI-double from Jackelyn Diekemper. LeeAnn Butcher was placed on second base to start the bottom of the eighth because the international tiebreaker rule went into effect after the seventh inning. Butcher was immediately doubled home by Diller with no outs to end the game.

Sacramento State starter Nikki Cinque (7-4) took the loss for the Hornets, allowing three unearned runs and six hits in seven innings as Illinois took advantage of two Hornet errors.

Sacramento State returns to action for two more games tomorrow (Saturday, March 19) as the team faces Rhode Island (12:30 p.m.) and Oregon State (3 p.m.) in the third and fourth rounds of the Capital Classic.