Feb. 6, 2015
Athens, Ga. - The Fighting Illini softball team opened the 2015 season at the Red and Black Showcase on Friday with a pair of games at Jack Turner Stadium. Illinois (2-0) had runners on base in every inning in the lid lifter against Winthrop (1-0), but struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, dropping the season opener to the Eagles, 5-1. The Illini then went toe-to-toe with host No. 12 Georgia, but quiet bats and a four-run fifth inning led the Bulldogs (2-0) past the Orange and Blue, 5-0.
All four Illini pitchers, including rookies Breanna Wonderly and Kate Giddens, saw action in Friday's doubleheader, while freshmen Carly Thomas, Leigh Farina, and Emily Brodner made their Illini debuts in the offensive lineup. Returners Alyssa Gunther (1B) and Nicole Tobon (C) made their first career starts at their respective positions as well.
"We didn't have a strong start in game one and got behind early," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "Once we regained our focus, we started to hit the ball on the nose and compete. However, we left the bases loaded twice--those clutch hits will come. Shelese settled in after the first two innings and was really tough. She will be very anxious to get the ball back.
"In game two, Bre was very impressive in her first outing in the Illini uniform. Emily gave us some great leadership behind the plate, and Leigh scorched the ball in her first collegiate at-bat. Now we need our veterans to step up for us tomorrow."
Missed Chances Doom Illini in Season Opener
Box Score (PDF)
Illinois out-hit Winthrop, 8-6, and Shelese Arnold limited the Eagles to just two earned runs, but the Illini left 14 runners on base, stranding the bases loaded in three different innings, as Winthrop took the lid lifter, 5-1. Ruby Rivera led the Illini at the plate, going 2-for-4 with Illinois' lone run, and Danielle Trezzo drove in Rivera with an RBI double in the seventh. Kylie Johnson extended her hitting streak from 2014 to nine games with a sixth-inning single, and Nicole Evans doubled in the fifth.
Winthrop got the scoring started early, as Megan Winningham drew a leadoff walk and Maddie Antone rocked a two-run shot to right center to spot the Eagles a quick 2-0 lead.
The Eagles tacked on two more in the bottom of the second. Sara Allen led off with a double to left, and Paige Haley drove in the pinch runner on an RBI single up the middle. The Eagles then made it 4-0 on a first-and-third stealing play, with Madison Templeton scoring from third after a low throw from catcher Nicole Tobon skirted into left field.
Arnold settled in for a 1-2-3 fourth inning, but a two-base error to start the fifth led to an unearned run, as Kristy Noble drove in Antone with an RBI single through the right side. A pair of walks loaded the bases, but Arnold regained her composure to strike out Haley and keep the Eagles from doing further damage.
Illinois got the leadoff batter on base in the second, third and fourth innings, and loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth and the fifth, but the Orange and Blue were unable to come up with that big hit as they headed to the seventh inning trailing 5-0.
Rivera singled to lead off the seventh, and a ground out and passed ball put her on third with two outs. Down to the Illini's final out, Trezzo stepped up to the plate and roped a double down the third-base line to drive in the Illini's first run of the season and pick up her first career double and RBI for the Fighting Illini. That would be all the Illini would get, however, as Winthrop starter Sara Allen sealed up the win with a grounder to short.
Allen (1-0) allowed one run on eight hits and four walks with five strikeouts in the full seven innings, while senior Arnold (0-1) had a career-high eight strikeouts, allowing six hits, six walks and two earned runs over six frames.
No. 12 Georgia Holds Off Illinois, 5-0
Box Score (PDF)
Illinois kept No. 12 Georgia at bay for the majority of the game, but a four-run fifth inning propelled the 2014 SEC Tournament Champions past the Illini, 5-0. Leigh Farina had a hit in her first career at-bat, while Breanna Wonderly and Kate Giddens made their Illini debuts in the circle.
Cortni Emanuel and Paige Wilson represented runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the first thanks to a pair of infield singles and a stolen base. Wilson looked to swipe second base, but Rivera took the throw at second, ran her back to first, then fired home to catch Emanuel at the plate as the Illini exited the opening frame in a scoreless tie.
Illinois threatened in the top of the third, as Farina and Gunther led off with back-to-back singles, but the Illini stranded the pair in scoring position.
The Bulldogs plated the first runner of the game in the bottom of the third, as Samantha LaZear tucked a leadoff double just inside the line behind third base. Cortni Emanuel pushed her to third with a single, and Wilson brought her home on a sacrifice fly.
After being held to just one run over the first four innings, the Bulldogs sent four across the plate in the fifth, thanks to five hits and a big home run by Alex Hugo. The inning began with three straight singles by the Emanuel sisters and Wilson, then a two-run blast to left by Hugo. A walk to Puailoa was the last of Wonderly's reign in the circle, as she was replaced by Kate Giddens in her college debut. The rookie loaded the bases with a hit batter and a walk, then allowed an RBI hit to Griffin in left, but a great play from Evans to Brodner stopped Swafford at the plate for the second out, and Giddens struck out McHellon to close out the fifth.
Jade Vecvanags came in to pitch for the Illini in the bottom of the sixth, and after allowing a leadoff bunt single, she shut down the opposition, as Illinois once again headed into the final inning trailing, 5-0. Wilkinson then set the Illini down in order to close out the game with a final score of 5-0 Georgia.
Bulldog hurler Chelsea Wilkinson (1-0) allowed just three hits and a walk over seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Breanna Wonderly (0-1) started in the circle for the Illini and was responsible for all five runs on nine hits and two walks over four-and-a-third innings. Kate Giddens allowed a hit and a walk in two thirds of an inning, and Jade Vecvanags gave up just one hit in the sixth.
Next Up: Illinois returns to action at the Red and Black Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 7, with a doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Illini take on Murray State in the first game, then have a chance at revenge against the Bulldogs in the night cap.
