CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In front of over 750 fans at Eichelberger Field, the Fighting Illini softball team earned their second Big Ten Conference series sweep of the season after defeating Purdue, 7-6, with senior Nicole Evans knocking in the game-winning run on a single in the bottom of the seventh inning on a windy Sunday (April 9) afternoon.
With their third-straight win, the Illini improve to 27-10 and 7-2 in the Big Ten, while the Boilermakers fall to 15-26 and 4-5 in the conference.
The Illini struck first with three runs in the third frame as senior Ruby Rivera got things going with an RBI double to left field, before back-to-back RBI singles from junior Maddi Doane and sophomore Kiana Sherlund made it 3-0 in favor of the home team.
After a bases loaded wild pitch made it 4-0 in the fifth, the Boilermakers ruined the shutout bid with an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.
Illinois added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the frame as junior Sam Acosta posted her first career RBI on a grounder to short stop and was then brought home on a Doane triple to centerfield for the 6-1 lead.
Down by five heading into the top of the seventh, Purdue rallied to tie the score at 6-6 on back-to-back doubles, followed by a two-run home run from Mallory Baker.
The Illini responded with three-straight hits in the bottom of the seventh as senior Alyssa Gunther led off the frame with a single to left field and advanced to third and an infield single from junior Annie Fleming. Evans then sent a ball through the left side for the walk-off single as Gunther scored easily.
UI totaled 13 hits and a pair of errors on the day, while the Boilermakers had nine hits and one miscue. Doane led the Illini with a 2-for-3 day plus two RBI, a run and a stolen base, while Gunther went 2-for-3 with a run scored as well. Sherlund and Fleming each added two hits in the win.
Senior Breanna Wonderly (13-9) earned the win after relieving sophomore starter Taylor Edwards in the top of the seventh and allowed one run on one hit in a 1/3 of an inning. Edwards went 6 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (one earned) on eight hits and a walk and struck out one.
Illinois wraps up its eight-game homestand on Wednesday (April 12) as SIUE comes to town for a 5 p.m. CT game at Eichelberger Field.
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.
