April 5, 2015
Box Score (PDF)
Iowa City, Iowa - Despite falling behind 5-0 early, a grand slam by Carly Thomas gave the Illini the lead in the top of the third, and three more home runs, including two by fellow freshman Annie Fleming, gave the Orange and Blue their second straight Big Ten series victory With the 12-7 defeat of Iowa, the Illini (14-21) take 2-out-of-3 on the weekend and improve 5-4 in conference play, while Iowa drops to 12-30 (3-8 Big Ten).
"Our underclassmen were very big today in winning a tough road series," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "Carly and Annie really drove the ball, and Jade stayed committed the entire game, using her defense. Our bullpen catchers provided great leadership, and Trezzo and Kylie kept the team focused with great leadership."
Thomas' third-inning shot made her the first Illini in program history to hit two grand slams during her freshman campaign. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week hit grand slams on consecutive Sundays, having gone deep twice with a school-record seven RBIs against Indiana on March 29. She is the fifth overall Illini to register two grand slams in a season, and just the second ever to hit two career grand slams in conference play. Thomas, who reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-3 on the day, extended her hitting streak to 10 straight games, tying Ruby Rivera for tops on the team this season.
Freshman Annie Fleming went deep twice in the game, becoming the 14th Illini ever to do so and the third this season. Rivera reached base in every at-bat, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, while Nicole Evans went 2-for-4 with a home run.
Shelese Arnold got the starting nod and did not allow a hit, but walked five of the eight batters she faced, and was replaced by Jade Vecvanags (8-8) after putting the first two Hawkeyes on base in the second. The sophomore tossed the remaining six innings, collecting her sixth win over her past seven appearances after allowing five runs on nine hits.
Shayla Starkenburg (10-17) pitched the first six-and-a-third innings for Iowa, allowing all 12 runs on 11 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, and Ashley Yoways retired the final two batters of the game, including a K. Three Hawkeyes tallied two hits in the game, led by Megan Blank, who tripled and homered with three runs and three RBIs.
Iowa struck first, putting up a five spot in the bottom of the second with the help of a two-run double by Cheyenne Pratt and a two-RBI triple by Blank.
However, the Illini offense replied with six runs of its own in the top of the third, as Thomas gave the Illini the lead with her second grand slam in as many weeks, making it 6-5.
Illinois added an insurance run in the top of the fourth, as Kylie Johnson led off with a double, and Alyssa Gunther drove her in on an RBI ground out.
Iowa retorted in the bottom half, loading the bases with one out on a single and a pair of walks. Blank scored on a wild pitch, but after a hit batter reloaded the bases, Vecvanags escaped the jam with a pair of ground outs, exiting the fourth inning with the lead intact, 7-6.
Another Illini freshman went deep in the top of the fifth, as a two-run shot by Fleming pushed the Orange and Blue further ahead, 9-6.
After two scoreless innings for Vecvanags, the Illini tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh on home runs by Evans and Fleming to take a six-run lead.
Down to their final out, the Hawkeyes scored one in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Blank, but Vecvanags struck out Whitney Repole for the final out of the game to seal up the 12-7 victory and even her pitching record at 8-8 on the year.
Next Up: The Illini return home on Wednesday, April 8, for a nonconference game against Indiana State. The Illini will host the Sycamores at 5 p.m. before making their first-ever trip to Maryland for their next Big Ten weekend series.
