Illini Slug Past Hoosiers for Doubleheader Sweep

March 28, 2015

Urbana, Ill. - The Fighting Illini offense exploded for 18 runs on 28 hits to sweep a doubleheader and clinch the Big Ten series against Indiana. Illinois had four batters collect at least four hits on the day, all of whom slugged over 1.000, and every Illini hit safely at least once with five Orange and Blue home runs throughout the doubleheader. Illinois captured its first Big Ten victories of the season, moving to 10-20 (2-3 Big Ten) on the year, while Indiana slips to 10-25 (1-4 Big Ten).

"We really competed today from start to finish, showing both the physical and mental toughness that this team is full of," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "Offensively, we had contributions from top to bottom. Allie and Gunny were table-setters, and Ruby, Perk and Coley (Evans) gave us big RBIs. At the bottom of the order, Carly was outstanding, and Annie certainly stepped in READY to make the most of her first start.

"On the defensive side, Ruby was big, and Gunny and Sanchez came up with big plays. Jade gave us great leadership in the circle today, and Shey spinned the ball well. We will need to bring our best tomorrow and expect a fight."

Alyssa Gunther was nearly flawless at the plate, going 6-for-7 with two triples, two walks and four runs scored. Allie Bauch was a spark at the top of the lineup, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, two walks, five runs and a stolen base, while Nicole Evans and Carly Thomas were both 4-for-7. Evans went deep in both games, and Thomas doubled and hit a three-run home run. Additionally, Jess Perkins and Ruby Rivera both hit long balls in game two, and Rivera also drove in the game-winning run in the final at-bat of the day.

Offensive Onslaught Leads Illini to Series-Opening Victory

Box Score (PDF)

Every Illini contributed offensively in the series opener, as eight batters collected hits, with the remaining Illini, Rivera, picking up a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly which both led to runs. Gunther was as good as can be at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI triple, while Evans and Thomas both went yard, including a three-run shot by the freshman outfielder.

"We are a great hitting team," said Bauch. "People haven't really had the chance to see it, we haven't really brought it together as a cohesive unit. But today all of our bats came out, and it was really nice to see."

Jade Vecvanags (3-7) went the distance in the circle for the Illini, surrendering eight hits and seven walks but just two earned runs with four strikeouts. Lora Olson (6-17) tossed the first five for Indiana, allowing all nine runs on nine hits and three walks, and Miranda Tamayo allowed just one hit and two walks over two scoreless frames of relief.

Indiana cracked the scoreboard in the top of the first, as Rebecca Blitz and Shannon Cawley both singled, and Kelsey Dotson drove in the first run of game on a sacrifice fly. The Hoosiers then loaded the bases, but a great play in foul territory by Gunther ended the threat.

The Illini put up a five spot in the bottom of the first, as Bauch and Gunther led off with back to back singles and Rivera bunted them into scoring position. Perkins ripped an RBI single to left and a bobble by Cawley allowed Gunther to cross the plate as well. Thomas then crushed a ball to straightaway center for a three-run homer to make it 5-1 Illini.

The Illini added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, kick-started by a solo shot by Evans. Vecvanags kept it going with a double to center, and Johnson hit an RBI single up the middle to score pinch runner Jill Nicklas.

The Hoosiers had a chance in the top of the fourth, loading the bases on three straight walks, but Vecvanags pitched herself out of the jam with two consecutive outs to escape the inning still holding a 7-1 advantage.

The Illini picked up two more in the bottom of the fourth, as Gunther ripped her first career triple to right center, scoring Bauch, and Rivera knocked her in with a sacrifice fly.

Dotson gave her team a chance at a comeback, hanging with a 13-pitch at-bat to hit a solo home run to left center to force the Illini to return to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, up by seven. Sanchez hit a slow roller and stole second with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, and Johnson hit a sinking liner to left looking for the game-ending RBI, but Cawley made a diving grab to end the inning with the Illini still up 9-2.

Indiana chipped away at the Illini's lead with three unearned runs in the top of the sixth. Taylor Uden got it started with a leadoff single. Blitz went for the sacrifice bunt, but a collision between Bauch and Uden allowed both runners to arrive safely. The Hoosiers gained momentum on the play, as Cawley and Erin Lehman both had RBI singles and CaraMia Tsirigos drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the Illini lead to four, 9-5.

A two-out double by Blitz kept the Hoosiers alive in the top of the seventh, and a throwing error by Fleming allowed her to come around and score, but that was the last of Indiana's offense, as Illinois took the series opener, 9-6.

Illini Overcome Late Surge for Walkoff Win

Box Score (PDF)

The hit Illini parade continued in game two, as the Orange and Blue tied their season high with 18 hits in the nightcap, just two off the all-time record. Bauch went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a stolen base and three runs including the game-winner, while Gunther, Thomas and Evans were all 3-for-4. Annie Fleming, who had just two career at-bats prior to today's games, went 2-for-3 with a walk and a clutch RBI in the sixth inning.

Shelese Arnold got the starting nod, going five-and-a-third innings and allowing five earned runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Vecvanags entered in the top of the sixth and gave up one run on three hits with a walk and two Ks over the final inning and two-thirds, capturing her second win of the day to improve to 4-7.

Miranda Tamayo started for Indiana but was yanked after just an inning and a third after allowing six runs on seven hits. Lora Olson (6-18) was strong in relief but allowed the game-winning run, one of three she was on the hook for, on 11 hits to surrender her second loss of the day. Taylor Uden was the biggest contributor for Indiana at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs, and Kelsey Dotson went long in the top of the seventh.

Rebecca Blitz drew a full-count walk to open the game, and an RBI double by Shannon Cawley put Indiana on the board, 1-0.

Illinois replied in the bottom of the first as the first three batters hit and scored. Bauch led off with a single through the right side, and Gunther ripped her second RBI triple of the day. Rivera then launched a two-run shot to left to make it 3-1 Illini. After a pair of strikeouts, Thomas and Sanchez put a pair in scoring position with a single and a double, and Fleming drew her first career walk to load the bases, but Tamayo got Johnson looking to strand the bases loaded and avoid any further damage.

The Orange and Blue kept the hit parade going in the second, using back-to-back home runs to take a 7-1 lead. Bauch kicked it off with her second-straight leadoff single, and after a walk to Gunther, Perkins crushed a three-run bomb that nearly made it to the street. The Hoosiers made a pitching change, but Evans didn't seem to mind, driving the first pitch Olson threw over the wall in left.

Indiana cut the Illini lead in half in the top of the third. CaraMia Tsirigos hit a leadoff double to the gap in left center, and a single by Katelyn Conenna put runners on the corners. Uden then drilled a three-run shot to left, making it 7-4 midway through the fourth.

The Hoosiers tied the score in the top of the sixth with another three spot, chasing Arnold from the circle. Tsirigos reached on an error by Bauch to start the inning. Kassi Farmer crushed a pinch-hit double to right center, and Uden came through for her team again with a two-run single. A looper to shallow left by Blitz then tied the game at seven all.

Back-to-back singles by Evans and Thomas got the Illini going in the bottom of the sixth, and Fleming gave the Illini the lead back with an RBI single to short.

The Illini did not lead for long, as Dotson clobbered a one-out pitch over top of the scoreboard to re-knot the score, 8-8.

The Orange and Blue did not back down, as led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right. Gunther followed with a single, and Rivera got the job done with an RBI grounder to second, as Bauch slid around the tag to capture a 9-8 victory in walkoff fashion.

"Right before the play I asked coach if she wanted me going on a ground ball," said Bauch, "and last minute she said yeah, so when Ruby hit that shot I was like `OK, I've got to get my wheels turning.' I had confidence, it was a slow roller so I knew I had time to make it if I got a good slide in. And I did, it was fun. Ruby did what she needed to do and it worked out."

Next Up: The Illini return to Eichelberger Field on Sunday, March 29, for the series finale with Indiana. First pitch for Sunday's game has been moved back to 3 p.m.