Illini Top Aggies in Walk-Off Fashion

March 6, 2015

Box Score (PDF)

Los Angeles, Calif. - In what began as a pitchers' duel, a bases-clearing double put UC Davis in the lead, but a walk-off RBI double by Allie Bauch, her second run-scoring double of the game, led the Illini past the Aggies, 5-4, to take the pair's opening game at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. With the win, Illinois improves to 8-11, while UC Davis falls to 7-11.

Nicole Evans and Allie Bauch combined for six of the Illini's nine hits in the game, as Evans went 3-for-3 with two solo home runs, both of which broke a tie score to give Illinois the lead, while Bauch was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles. Kylie Johnson provided important pop at the bottom of the order, going 2-for-3 with a double and the game-winning run.

Jade Vecvanags (2-1) allowed just four hits and three earned runs in her first complete game of the season, while the Aggies needed three pitchers to get the job done, with starter Leah Munden (5-3) taking the loss after returning to the circle for the seventh inning.

"Jade once again really was throwing all of her pitches well," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "We are particularly pleased with how she stayed composed and in command of the game when momentum shifted.

"Our offense, led by Coley (Evans), Allie and Kylie, responded as well in each bottom half of each inning. We have a great Fighting Illini crowd here with so many former players and their families fired up in the stands, and we fed off of that energy!"

After three-and-a-half innings of scoreless play, Evans broke the silence in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff home run to make it 1-0 Illini.

The Aggies used a bunt single and a pair of walks to load the bases in the top of the fifth, and a bases-clearing double by Krista Bava put UC Davis on top, 3-1.

The Illini quickly replied in the bottom of the inning, as Johnson led off with a single, and Bauch drove her in with a double to right. With Bauch on third, Ruby Rivera picked up an RBI groundout to tie the score at 3-3.

Evans gave the Illini the lead again in the bottom of the sixth with another leadoff home run, marking the first time this season an Illini has gone deep twice in the same game.

With a one-run lead to protect in the top of the seventh, the Illini defense stumbled, allowing an unearned run to cross the plate and tie the score at four. However, Illinois wasted no time getting it back in the bottom half of the frame, as Johnson led off with a double and Bauch crushed a two-baser down the left-field line to end the game with a 5-4 Illini victory.

Illinois is back in action tonight with a matchup against the host No. 13/15 UCLA Bruins at 7 p.m. CT.