","thumbnailUrl":null,"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"University of Illinois Athletics","jobTitle":null},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"University of Illinois Athletics","url":"https://fightingillini.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://fightingillini.com/images/logos/site/site.png","width":50,"height":50}},"about":null,"speakable":{"type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["article-content","article-headline"]}} Fighting Illini Fall in Big Ten Road Opener - University of Illinois Athletics
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University of Illinois Athletics

Nicole Evans, bat, Indiana
7
Illinois ILL 12-21, 3-4 B1G
15
Winner Iowa IOWA 12-28, 3-6 B1G
Illinois ILL
12-21, 3-4 B1G
7
Final
15
Iowa IOWA
12-28, 3-6 B1G
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Illinois ILL 0 6 1 0 0 7 11 0
Iowa IOWA 9 0 1 5 X 15 12 0

W: Starkenburg, Shayla (10-16) L: Vecvanags, Jade (6-8)

Game Recap: Softball |

Fighting Illini Fall in Big Ten Road Opener

Evans knocks 12th home run of season

April 3, 2015

Box Score (PDF)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - To open the first Big Ten road series of the season, the Fighting Illini softball team was unable to overcome a nine-run first inning by the Iowa Hawkeyes en route to a 15-7 decision that favored the hosts. The loss halted Illinois' four-game win streak as they moved to 12-21 on the campaign and 3-4 in conference play.

Illinois quickly dug a deep hole, allowing the Hawkeyes to plate nine runners in the opening frame. Eight of the runs were served up by Jade Vecvanags who got the nod, but did not record an out in her appearance. Breanna Wonderly took over the circle and allowed just one more Iowa run in the first inning.

"Tonight wasn't our night," coach Terri Sullivan shared. "We didn't play good softball and you don't deserve a `W' when that is the case. Now we move on to tomorrow."

With a nine-run deficit heading into the second inning, the Fighting Illini went to work. Nicole Evans opened the inning with her team-leading 12th home run of the season. Carly Thomas, Kylie Johnson, Allie Bauch, Ruby Rivera and Alyssa Gunther all scored in the inning as the Illini batted through the order. In Evans second at-bat of the inning, she sent a double to left field, which plated Rivera and Gunther.

The big second inning by the Illinois squad cut Iowa's lead to just three runs. Wonderly went on to strike out the first batter she faced in the bottom of the second frame and, ultimately, the Hawkeyes would go scoreless in the inning.

In the top of the third, Illinois cut the Iowa City crew's advantage to just two runs after Bauch brought Brittany Sanchez home on a single to right field.

The Illini wouldn't be able to make it another big inning and ran out of offense to counter Iowa's bats. The Hawkeyes scored a run in the bottom of the third inning and then five more runners scored in the bottom of the fourth to account for the 15 runs for the black and gold crew.

Next up: Illinois and Iowa are set for take two tomorrow, Saturday, at 2 p.m. from Pearl Field.

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