Illini Fall on Day Two at Red and Black Showcase

Feb. 7, 2015

Athens, Ga. - The Fighting Illini struggled with consistency on day two of the Red and Black Showcase, showing improvement offensively but unable to put it all together for an entire game, as they dropped a pair of games with Murray State (2-1) and No. 12 Georgia (4-0) to open the season 0-4.

Allie Bauch hit and scored in both games, including an RBI double against Georgia, while Alyssa Gunther had an RBI double and scored a total of three runs in the doubleheader.

"We struggled again in the first game to get those hits with runners on under pressure," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "We also didn't control the count in the circle. Everyone figured out we were just pressing too hard to get the W instead of winning innings as we prepare to do at practice.

"I love how we responded versus Georgia for four innings. Then they were just the better team to close out the game; we didn't make plays in the fifth and sixth and they took advantage of that as the best do. We have been more dialed in playing them than any other opponent and we learned a key lesson early in the season--against EVERY opponent you have to be ready to play your best, for seven innings.

"There have been flashes of great things from our team. Now it's time to put it together for a Sunday finale."

Murray State 5, Illinois 3

Box Score (PDF)

Illini shortstop Ruby Rivera reached base in all three plate appearances and Alyssa Gunther scored two of the Illini's three runs, but Murray State topped Illinois, 5-3, in game six of the Red and Black Showcase.

Murray State struck first in the top of the second, using a leadoff walk and a pair of singles to plate Jessica Twaddle. A bases-loaded ground out by Cayla Levins then drove in Maggie Glass before Arnold struck out Taylor Odom to end the inning.

Mo Ramsey led off the top of the third with a bunt single, but Emily Brodner threw her out stealing second for her first career gun down for the second out. However, Twaddle kept the inning alive with a two-out walk, and Glass then bounced a two-run blast off the top of the wall in left to make it 4-0 Racers.

The Illini cut the Racers' lead in half in the bottom of the third, as Gunther and Allie Bauch led off with back-to-back walks and Kylie Johnson laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases. Nicole Evans drove in the first Illini run on a ground out to short, then Bauch hustled home on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

Alexa Becker got one back for the Racers in the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run to right center. Carly Thomas then flashed some leather in center on back-to-back low liners to keep Murray State from tacking on any more runs.

A pair of errors by Murray State's first baseman allowed Gunther to score an unearned run in the fifth inning and pull the Illini back within two, 5-3.

Breanna Wonderly took over in the circle to start the sixth inning, and despite allowing three hits, she stranded all three Racers in scoring position over two shutout frames.

Down to the final two outs, Bauch hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but that was it for the Illini offense, as Murray State took the game, 5-3.

Mason Robinson (1-0) tossed the full seven innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks. Shelese Arnold (0-2) pitched the first two and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks. Jade Vecvanags followed for two-and-a-third innings, surrendering just one hit but it was a home run. Breanna Wonderly then closed out the game for the Illini, allowing three hits over two scoreless innings.

No. 12 Georgia 11, Illinois 3 (6 inn.)

Box Score (PDF)

After falling behind early, the Illini came back to tie the Bulldogs, 3-3, but clutch two-out hitting pushed No. 12 Georgia back in front in the fifth, and a five-run sixth inning cut the game early, as UGA topped Illinois, 11-3.

Allie Bauch and Alyssa Gunther each had RBI doubles and scored in the top of the third, and Leigh Farina was the first Illini across the plate. Bulldog second baseman Alex Hugo, the 2014 NCAA home run leader, accounted for the majority of Georgia's runs, going 3-for-4 with two triples, a home run and six RBIs.

A walk, a single and a pair of stolen bases put the Emanuel sisters in scoring position with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Bauch fired home on a grounder to second to catch Sydni Emanuel at the plate, but Alex Hugo skied a bomb off the top of the wall in right to put up a three spot for the Bulldogs.

The Illini tied the score in the top of the third with back-to-back two-out doubles by Bauch and Gunther. Farina got it started with a single up the middle, and Rivera drove in the tying run with a ground ball right through the second baseman's legs.

Both defenses held strong until the bottom of the fifth, when the Bulldogs put together a two-out rally to take back the lead. Cortni Emanuel started it with an infield single, and Paige Wilson followed with a walk. Hugo then came through once again with a go-ahead two-run triple. Kaylee Puailoa skied the next one high in the air, but Bauch lost it in the sun, allowing an unearned run to score. Wonderly took over in the circle and got Swafford to fly out to close out the fifth with Georgia ahead, 6-3.

The Dawgs put the game away with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five unearned runs with the help of some infield miscues and another RBI triple by Hugo. Maeve McGuire put the finishing touches on the game with a pinch hit RBI double to left, sealing the deal in six innings, 11-3.

Chelsea Wilkinson (3-0) threw the complete six innings for the Bulldogs, allowing three hits and three unearned runs with no walks and eight strikeouts. Shelese Arnold (0-3) gave up six runs, five earned, on six hits and three walks in four and two-thirds innings, and Breanna Wonderly allowed five unearned runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Next Up: Illinois closes play at the Red and Black Showcase on Sunday, Feb. 8, with a matchup against Coppin State. The Illini and Eagles square off at 8 a.m. CT.