March 22, 2015
Urbana, Ill. - Illinois pitcher Jade Vecvanags did not allow an earned run in a three-hit gem, but two second-inning errors spotted No. 15 Minnesota a trio of runs, as the Golden Gophers took the Big Ten series finale, 3-2. UM's 13th-straight victory lifts the Gophers to 27-4 (3-0 Big Ten), while Illinois slips to 8-19 (0-3 Big Ten).
"I know that it is March Madness,and there are a lot of great games to watch where teams are playing for their life, but everyone would have loved to have seen an outstanding college softball game today at Eichelberger Field," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "To come out and fight the way we did after Minnesota really took it to us in games one and two speaks to the talent, dedication, and belief this team has."
Vecvanags (2-6) twirled a personal-best 10 strikeouts over the complete game, which ties for ninth-most all time in program history. The last Illini to best 10 Ks in a game was Pepper Gay, who struck out 11 on Feb. 11, 2012, vs. UAB. Vecvanags allowed just three hits and three walks, surrendering just three unearned runs in the top of the second.
Ruby Rivera and Kylie Johnson were both 2-for-3 on the day, as each struck a double and Rivera also went yard in the fourth. Jess Perkins hit a solo homer in the second, and Vecvanags and Carly Thomas both singled in the bottom of the seventh.
Sara Groenewegen got the start for the Illini and allowed one run on two hits over three innings. Kylie Stober gave up a run on two hits over the next inning and two-thirds, and Nikki Anderson (5-1) closed out the game with two-and-a-third scoreless frames, allowing three hits. Tyler Walker, Sam Macken and Danielle Parlich accounted for the three Minnesota singles in the game, with Parlich claiming the team's lone RBI.
"Jade delivered a three-hitter versus a monstrous offense, and 10 Ks with just two walks...that's fight!" said Sullivan. "Perkins handled the game very well (behind the plate). We saw all three of Minnesota's pitchers and were right where we wanted to be. They came up with some big defensive plays today, and that's what great teams do."
Minnesota opened the scoring in the top of the second, when three unearned runs crossed the plate. Groenewegen reached as the leadoff batter on a ball that Danielle Trezzo could not come up with down the third-base line. An RBI single by Parlich sent the first run across the plate, and after a key bases-loaded strikeout of Paige Palkovich, Tyler Walker hit a grounder to short that Rivera misplayed, leading to two more unearned runs before Vecvanags' fifth strikeout of the day ended the frame.
Perkins replied in the bottom of the second, drilling a solo shot to center to chip away at the Gophers' lead, 3-1.
After a pair of perfect innings by Vecvanags, Minnesota sent Kylie Stober to the circle to start the fourth. Rivera gave her a warm welcome, crushing a solo home run to center as the first batter of the inning to cut the Minnesota lead to one.
Minnesota threatened in the top of the fifth, as a hit batsman and a successful hit and run put a pair of Golden Gophers in scoring position with one out. But after intentionally walking Kaitlyn Richardson, Vecvanags got Groenewegen to line into a double play at short to escape the inning unscathed.
Johnson doubled with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, leading to another call to the bullpen which brought in Anderson. Rivera hit a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth, but her pinch runner Jill Nicklas was stranded on third, as the Illini headed to the final frame still trailing by one.
Thomas and Vecvanags hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a key strikeout for Anderson made it two down, and Allie Bauch grounded out sharply to second to come up just short of the upset, 3-2.
