CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior Annie Fleming drove in the game-winning run and sent the Illinois softball team to a 4-3 walk-off win over No. 6 Minnesota in front of over 600 fans on Saturday (April 1) afternoon at Eichelberger Field.
The Illini improve to 24-9 and 4-1 in the Big Ten, and snap a 15-game losing to the Gophers, with the last Illini win over Minnesota, another 4-3 victory, coming on March 24, 2012 at Eichelberger Field.
It was the Illini's first win over a ranked opponent of the season and first top-10 win since defeating No. 10 Florida State a season ago. Saturday's victory also goes down as the just the eighth top-10 win in program history and ties for the third-highest ranked opponent that UI has defeated.
The Gophers (29-3, 4-1) got out to another quick start with a two-run home run from Kendyl Lindaman in the top of the first inning, before making it 3-0 with an RBI single to left field in the top of the fifth.
The Illini answered back in the bottom of the frame as senior Ruby Rivera led off with an infield single to third base, before coming home four batters later on an RBI single through the right side from sophomore Kiana Sherlund.
After a single to centerfield from senior Alyssa Gunther loaded the bases, Fleming reached on an error from Gopher second baseman MaKenna Partain to score junior Maddi Doane, before another Gopher error at the plate allowed Sherlund to slide home and tie things up at 3-3.
It was Sherlund again making things happen in the seventh as the fourth Gopher error of the day put the sophomore on with just one out in the frame. Following a Gunther walk, Fleming showed off her heroics with the game-winning RBI double to deep left field.
Senior Breanna Wonderly (10-8) earned the complete game win after giving up three earned runs on seven hits and walk, while equaling a season-high with four strikeouts.
The Illini totaled four hits and an error in the win, with Sherlund leading the way with a hit and two runs on the day.
Gopher pitcher Sara Groenewegen (14-2) took the loss after giving up the game-winning run in 1.1 innings of relief action.
Illinois will look to take its second-straight Big Ten Conference series in the rubber match against the Gophers on Sunday (April 2) at 12 p.m. CT.
For more Fighting Illini softball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow the team on Twitter @IlliniSB or like Fighting Illini Softball on Facebook.
