April 10, 2015
College Park, Md. -- In what began as a pitchers' duel, the Illini broke the game open with six runs over the final three innings to defeat Maryland, 7-3, in the pair's first-ever Big Ten contest. Carly Thomas was a triple shy of the cycle, while Allie Bauch and Nicole Evans both also went deep to account for four of the Illini's seven runs. The win lifts Illinois to 16-21 (6-4 Big Ten), while Maryland drops to 23-17 (5-5 Big Ten).
"We came out very focused and ready to play from the first pitch on," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "Jade was locked in, and Carly is such a great igniter. We liked the team play from Sanchez and Ruby, and Allie and Evans really saw their pitches well. Gunny continues to be a key leader for us."
Freshman center fielder Carly Thomas led all players by going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored, while Alyssa Gunther and Brittany Sanchez each went 2-for-4 with a run. Gunther tripled in the fifth, becoming the first Big Ten player with four triples this season. The three-bagger was her third during conference play, tying the Illini program record which was set last season by teammate Kylie Johnson.
The three home runs for the Illini in the game move the 2015 Orange and Blue into fourth place all time in the Illini single-season record books with 49 on the year, while Evans took over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with her 14th long ball this spring.
Jade Vecvanags (10-8) impressed in the circle, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over the complete game to capture her eighth victory in the past nine games. Kaitlyn Schmeiser (17-7) tossed the first five innings for Maryland, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts, and Hannah Dewey surrendered the final three runs, two earned, on four hits in the sixth and seventh.
Lindsey Schmeiser was the leader at the plate for the Terps, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run, and Dewey was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI double.
The Illini threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out, but a flyout double play on a great throw to the plate by Kylie Datil in right kept the Orange and Blue from doing early damage.
The Terps were relieved to have avoided the bat of Thomas with the bases loaded, as she led off the top of the second by driving the first pitch of the inning to straightaway center for a solo homer.
Maryland had its first real threat in the bottom of the third as Lindsey Schmeiser led off with a double to the base of the wall in right center, extending her current hitting streak to 17 games, but a key strikeout for Vecvanags stranded the leadoff batter on third.
Bauch doubled the Illini lead in the top of the fifth, leading off with a solo shot to right. Gunther followed with her fourth triple of the season, the most in the Big Ten this year, and Ruby Rivera drove her home with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 Illinois.
The Terrapins got themselves on the board with back-to-back doubles by Lindsey Schmeiser and Hannah Dewey, but the Illini defense kept Maryland from tying the score, stranding two Terps in scoring position to end the fifth ahead 3-1.
Illinois replied with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, jump-started by a leadoff double from Thomas which led to a pitching change. Sanchez went for the sacrifice bunt but beat it out for a single and challenged the Terrapin defense by taking second, then Johnson drove Thomas in with a grounder to the pitcher. Bauch walked to load the bases, and Gunther lined out to deep left. Sanchez elected to hold up at third, but Johnson took off from second and ended up in a run down. With Johnson distracting the fielders, Sanchez then sprinted home, and Johnson used her speed to arrive safely on third after all, making it 5-1 Illini.
Maryland got one back in the bottom of the sixth, as Datil stole second with Kaitlyn Schmeiser on third The throw to second trickled into center field, allowing Schmeiser to hustle home for an unearned run.
The Illini retorted again with two in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by Evans, her Big Ten-leading 14th of the year, to give Vecvanags a five-run lead to protect in the final frame.
Dewey singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, and Shannon Bustillos put a pair in scoring position for Corey Schwartz with a double. The second baseman knocked in Dewey on a sacrifice fly, but that was it for the Maryland offense, as the Illini sealed up the series-opener, 7-3.
Next Up: Illinois returns to Maryland Softball Stadium on Saturday for game two of the three-game series. Opening pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT).
