Wikoff powers Illini

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CLEARWATER, Fla. – Brandon Wikoff homered, and Illinois broke open a close game with a five-run sixth inning en route to an 8-3 victory against Iowa on Friday in the season opener for both teams.

Joe Bonadonna, Dominic Altobelli, Chris Montgomery, Craig Lutes and Josh Parr also had RBI for the Illini, who collected 11 hits.

Winning pitcher Phil Haig allowed three hits in five innings. Aaron Martin earned the save, scattering two hits in four innings.

In softball:

UI takes two. Meredith Hackett hit a grand slam to help Illinois rally from an 8-2 deficit in a 12-11 victory in eight innings against host Houston.

Hope Howell and Lana Armstrong each homered and drove in two runs for the Illini, who recorded 13 hits.

Kelley Wedel also drove in two runs for Illinois (7-4).

In their first tournament game, the Illini defeated McNeese State 4-1.

In swimming & diving:

Clapp sets standard. Senior Marissa Clapp, a Bismarck-Henning product, broke the school record in the 400 individual medley prelims Friday at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Clapp clocked 4 minutes, 13.85 seconds, topping her previous best by nearly seven seconds.

"(Marissa) put together a tough race and was willing to risk everything to get that time," UI coach Sue Novitsky said.

In the event final, Clapp finished in 4:14.18, the second-fastest time in Illinois history.

"I could not ask for more from both of my races today," Clapp said. "It is very surreal, and I can't really grasp it. I wasn't very aware of the records heading into the race, but I'm very happy with how things turned out."

In the 400 medley relay, CeCe Marizu, Corey Kasten, Jen Ivarson and Meghan Mason posted the third-fastest time in school history, clocking 3:45.65.

In track & field:

Evans tosses season best. Junior Aja Evans had a season-best performance in the shot put, going 53 feet, 11 inches to win at Eastern Illinois' Friday Night Special in Charleston.

Senior Christina Beaird claimed the 3,000 meters in 10 minutes, 35.96 seconds.

In men's action, Gary Miller won the 600 with a season-best time of 1:20.46.

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