Illini Claim Fourth Straight Big Ten Series with DH Sweep

April 18, 2015

Urbana, Ill. - The Fighting Illini captured their fourth straight Big Ten series victory on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader with Wisconsin to claim their 10th conference win of the season. Illini Faithful enjoyed a day in the sun, kicking off the morning with the 12th-annual World's Largest Softball Tailgate, prior to a season-high 976 fans entering Eichelberger Field for the doubleheader sweep. At the end of the weekend, Illinois sits at 21-22 (10-5 Big Ten), while Wisconsin is 19-24 (3-11 Big Ten).

"As expected from Wisconsin, this was a tough series," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "They are a very resilient team with high morale. We didn't play our best softball at times throughout the weekend, but because of our own resilience and tough-minded players, we kept fighting. It was the mental toughness of our offense, and defense that was impressive after a long day at the field.

"On defense, the left side saw a lot of action and really stepped up at key moments. Leigh and Annie were big for us. Jade got herself in the right frame of mind and got it done. Our pitchers are pushing hard with our catchers every day, and we certainly need them to stay in the present and stay working hard to team up and get it done.

"Offensively, we were seeing the ball well today. Hats off to Wisconsin centerfielder Maria Van Abel. She chased a lot of balls down. I am proud of our TEAM for being a together and getting it done. It is critical to have that camaraderie at this time of the year and critical to put the team first."

Illini Even Series with 5-3 Victory in Game 1

Despite being limited to just six hits in the game, the Illini put up five runs over the first three innings and held on to top Wisconsin, 5-3, and even the series at one game apiece. Carly Thomas and Kylie Johnson each had two hits, and Nicole Evans drove in the first run on an RBI double.

Jade Vecvanags (14-9) went the distance for the Illini, allowing 10 hits but just three runs with five strikeouts to capture her 14th victory. Mariah Watts (8-7) struggled with control, surrendering three earned runs on seven walks and five hits with one K in the full six.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Illini put up two runs in the bottom of the first. Alyssa Gunther walked and Jess Perkins was hit by a pitch to put two on for Evans, who ripped an RBI double to the gap in left center. Thomas then knocked in Perkins with an RBI ground out to make it 2-0.

Wisconsin loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the second, but Vecvanags limited the Badgers to just one run on a bases-loaded walk, as the Illini escaped the frame with their lead still intact, 2-1.

The Illini did the same in the bottom half. Johnson laid down a perfect bunt single with one out. She stole second and got to third on an overthrow. Allie Bauch drew a walk then stole second, and Gunther loaded the bases on another walk. Perkins then doubled the Illini lead with her eighth career sacrifice fly, a new Illini record, driving in Johnson to make it 3-1.

Illinois took advantage of some Badger miscues in the bottom of the third, scoring two unearned runs with the help of three walks, an error and a wild pitch. Thomas led off with a single through the right side, and Remeny Perez, Bauch and Gunther all drew walks. Johnson drove in drove in Annie Fleming on a grounder to second, and Leigh Farina came in to score on a wild pitch to lead 5-1 after three.

A single, a stolen base and another single scored a Badger run in the top of the fifth, but a huge caught stealing at home on Chloe Miller after Tancill whiffed on a suicide squeeze helped keep Wisconsin from plating any more, as Illinois maintained a 5-2 lead.

Down to their final three outs, Kelsey Jenkins crushed a solo shot to straightaway center to cut the Illini advantage down to two. Megan Tancill brought the tying run to the plate with two outs with a double to the gap, but Vecvanags drew a grounder to close up her 14th win of the season, 5-3.

Orange and Blue Battle Back to Claim Series, 12-8

The top five Illini batters combined for a total of 12 hits and 12 RBIs to lead the Orange and Blue to a come-from-behind victory, 12-8, and capture the rubber match of the Big Ten series. Illinois allowed seven runs in the third, but the Illini plated runners in every inning to claw their way back for the win.

After the Illini were held without a home run in game one for the first time since March 25, Carly Thomas put the Illini on the board with a three-run bomb in the first as part of a five-RBI day. Gunther and Perkins each had three hits, two RBIs and two runs, and Bauch was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a two-run homer.

Evans' fourth-inning single extended her current hitting streak to a team-season-best 11 games straight, while Bauch reached safely for the 16th straight game, also a team season high, and has been on base in 31 of the last 33 games.

Shelese Arnold got the start, but left the game after allowing four runs on just two hits and three walks in two-and-a-third innings. Breanna Wonderly gave up a hit and an HBP to the only batters she faced in the third and was held responsible for two runs. Vecvanags (15-9) then took over and allowed two more runs on two hits and two walks in the inning but then shut down the Wisconsin offense for four scoreless frames, allowing a total of just four hits and three walks in four and two-thirds innings with six strikeouts.

Taylor-Paige Stewart tossed the complete game for Wisconsin, allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits and five walks with two strikeouts.

Wisconsin struck first in the top of the first, as Marissa Mersch singled, stole second and scored on a wild pitch.

Thomas put the Illini ahead in the bottom of the opening frame, as Gunther and Perkins singled and the freshman crushed her ninth home run of the season for a three-run shot.

The Illini added two more in the bottom of the second. Nicole Tobon and Johnson singled, Bauch walked to load the bases, and Gunther drove in a run by getting hit with a pitch. Perkins then made it 5-1 with a bloop single that dropped into shallow center.

The Badgers took back the lead in the top of the third, running through three Illini pitchers to put up a seven spot and charge ahead, 8-5. Jenkins, who entered the weekend without ever having hit a ball out of the park, hit her second home run of the day for a two-run blast, cutting the Illini lead in half, 5-3. After issuing a walk to the next batter, Arnold was replaced in the circle by Wonderly. The sophomore allowed an infield single and a hit batter, loading the bases, and after just two batters was yanked in favor of game one starter Jade Vecvanags. She surrendered two hits and two walks, allowing Wisconsin to take a three-run lead before a strikeout stopped the bleeding.

For the second straight day, Fleming got the Illini going after a big Wisconsin inning, leading off the bottom of the second with a double. Bauch then picked up an RBI on a single down the first base line to get one back for the Illini, 8-6.

The Illini made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fourth, as Perkins and Evans led off with singles, and Thomas drove in Perkins on a sacrifice fly.

The Orange and Blue took back the lead with a three spot off four straight two-out hits to jump back in front, 10-8. Brittany Sanchez got the Illini going with a leadoff walk, then Gunther, Perkins (double), Evans and Thomas each connected for base hits with two away to mark the fifth straight inning with runs scored and regain the Illini advantage.

Bauch gave the Illini some insurance in the bottom of the sixth, hitting her 10th home run of the season for a two-run bomb to make it 12-8 Illinois, and Vecvanags sealed up her 15th win with a hitless top of the seventh.

Next Up: Illinois heads upstate on Wednesday, taking on Northwestern for a Big Ten doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on April 22. Both games will air live on the Big Ten Network.