URBANA – The unofficial motto for the Illinois softball team is "first things first."

Illini squad members take the words to heart.

"Coach always emphasizes the first inning as the most important," said Sarah Baumgartner, who had two hits in both games of Friday's doubleheader at Eichelberger Field.

Lindsey Hamma knocked in three runs with two hits for the Illini in their 5-1 win against Indiana State on Wednesday.

URBANA – An eight-run loss to Michigan a day earlier didn't drain the confidence from the Illinois softball team.

It helped inspire the team for Sunday's Big Ten Conference game against the Wolverines at Eichelberger Field.

URBANA – Illinois' softball team beat the weather, but that wasn't Saturday's most formidable foe at Eichelberger Field.

Despite a constant drizzle, Michigan's Wolverines pounded 14 hits – six for extra bases – and handed the Illini their first loss at home, 10-2, as well as their first Big Ten setback.

URBANA – The Michigan State softball tradition includes a national championship in 1976 and, entering this year, five straight 30-win seasons.

The Illinois tradition is in its infancy, though the state's reputation in the softball world is well established.

A quick glance at Big Ten schools prior to the opening of the league's softball season this weekend:

URBANA – Those who say collegiate softball is different than the high school game will find an ardent believer in University of Illinois freshman catcher Janna Sartini.

It took her 34 games as an Illini to match the home run output for her entire prep career, three.

CHARLESTON – Hitting hasn't been a problem this spring for Illinois softball player Katie O'Connell.

The difficulty for the freshman second baseman from Joliet West has been the positioning of the opposing fielders.