CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The hot Illini bats continued on day two of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge as the Illinois softball team improved to 3-0 in the Challenge with wins over Boston College (5-1) and North Carolina (4-1) on Saturday (Feb. 20) at the Anderson Softball Stadium.
"I am proud of the way we played against a very strong North Carolina team," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Their pitchers are top notch and I felt like we handled ourselves well at the plate. We also had several solid plays on defense that helped make it an all around great night."
Illinois 5, Boston College 1
It was a quick start for the Illini (5-3) against the Eagles (3-6) as they scored four unanswered runs in the first two innings for a fast 4-0 lead. Senior Allie Bauch got things going in the first with her first home run of the season on a two-run shot to right center field, plating junior Alyssa Gunther along the way.
The scoring continued in the second frame when senior Remeny Perez scored on a throwing error from BC pitcher Jordan Weed. Senior Kylie Johnson, who reached on the play, was then driven in on a single up the middle from sophomore Carly Thomas.
A solo home run from Jordan Chimento broke up the shutout in the fourth inning, but the Illini responded an inning later as Thomas sent a solo shot off the UNC scoreboard just beyond the left field fence for the 5-1 edge.
It was all Breanna Wonderly (2-1) from there on as the junior from Centerfield, Mo., held BC hitless in the final three innings for her second victory of the season. Wonderly allowed just one run on four hits and tallied two strikeouts in a complete game effort.
The Illini outhit Boston College for the second-straight game, 7-4, with the Eagles also committing one error in the contest. Bauch and Thomas led the UI attack, each posting a 2-for-3 performance with two RBI and a run. Gunther added a pair of stolen bases for the Illini.
Illinois 4, North Carolina 1
The Illini bats came alive in the second frame as Evans led off with a solo home run, followed by a two-run shot to right center field from Perez for the 3-0 lead. It was Evans' first of the season and the 24th of her career, while Perez also notched her first of 2016 and the 12th of her career. UI then added a run later in the inning on a double steal with Johnson stealing second and freshman Stephanie Abello stealing home.
The Tar Heels would get on the board in the third with a two-out RBI single to left field, but that would be it for the hosts as junior Jade Vecvanags (3-2) allowed just three hits over the final four innings to secure the victory.
Vecvanags allowed just one earned run on six hits over seven innings for her second-straight win.
UI and UNC each totaled six hits in the contest, with the Tar Heels committing one error. Six Illini registered hits in the win, with Perez also notching a pair of RBIs and one run.
The Orange and Blue wrap up the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Sunday (Feb. 21) against host North Carolina at 11:30 a.m. CT at Anderson Softball Stadium.
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