URBANA, Ill. – Behind a standout team performance at the plate, the Illinois softball team earned a Big Ten Conference series sweep of Maryland with a 20-2 victory on Sunday (April 8) at Eichelberger Field.
The 20 runs plated by the Illini (25-13, 6-4 B1G) ties for the second-most runs scored in a single game in program history, while their 19 RBI on the day also tied for second-most in program history and the 18 hits against the Terps (15-23, 5-4 B1G) ranked in a tie for fourth-most knocks in a game.
Senior Maddi Doane and junior Kiana Sherlund paced the UI offense as Doane went 2-for-3 with two home runs, six RBI and three runs, while Sherlund notched 3-for-4 performance with a grand slam and a double, five RBI and three runs. Doane's six RBI tied for the second-most RBI in a game in the record books.
For the series, the Illini registered 38 runs on 38 hits, including eight doubles, two triples and three home runs, and totaled 36 RBI in the three games.
Quotable
"The key to this weekend was our players. There was a lot of great energy and we were attacking good pitches on offense. We played really solid defense and our pitchers did a good job as well. It was a complete game each day and we had a great weekend." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
After an opening RBI single from redshirt-junior Carly Thomas started off the scoring, the Terps came back to tie the score at 1-1 on an RBI single of their own.
The tie did not last long as the Illini put up eight runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Sherlund's third grand slam of the season and fourth home run of the year and a two-run pinch hit double from senior Rowan McGuire.
The Illini went one to plate four runs in the third and another seven scores in the fourth, including back-to-back three-run homers from Doane in each inning and a two-run double for freshman Shelby Stauffenberg's first career hit in the Orange and Blue.
Junior Emily Oestreich started and went two innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits and three walks in the outing. Sophomore Akilah Mouzon (4-1) entered in the third and gave up just one earned run on one hit and one walk in two innings to earn the win. Senior Erin Walker also saw relief action, pitching a hitless fifth inning for the Illini.
What's Next
The Illini next travel to Madison, Wis., for a three-game conference series at Wisconsin on April 13-15 at Goodman Softball Complex.
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.
