AUSTIN, Texas – The Illinois softball dropped a pair of games on day two of the Texas Invitational, falling to host and No. 21/24-ranked Texas, 8-1, and to Weber State, 10-5, in the night cap on Saturday (Feb. 27) at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
"Today was a tough day all around," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We made several errors on defense and could not recover. Tomorrow is a new opportunity to get back on the right track."
Senior Allie Bauch led the Illini (7-6) on the day, going 4-for-6 with two runs, two RBI and a stolen base in the two games.
No. 21/24 Texas 8, Illinois 1
The Illini drew first blood in the third frame as Bauch delivered a two-out single through the right side to bring home Johnson, who singled earlier in the inning.
UT (13-2) responded by scoring eight unanswered runs, beginning with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third on an RBI single up the middle, followed by an RBI double down the right field line.
Despite a two-out RBI double in the fourth that pushed the deficit to three, the Illini were still in striking distance heading into the sixth inning. The Longhorns then broke things open with five runs on five hits and two Illini errors to take the game, 8-1.
The Illini had two hits and four errors in the loss, while the Longhorns totaled 10 hits and a miscue. Bauch notched a hit and an RBI against UT, with Johnson adding a run and a hit.
Junior Jade Vecvanags (4-3) dropped the decision after allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits in three and two-thirds innings of work. Classmate Breanna Wonderly pitched one and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs – four earned – on four hits, with freshman Taylor Edwards throwing the final two-thirds and allowing just one hit.
Tiarra Davis (8-1) earned the win for the Longhorns, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and striking out seven in a complete game.
Weber State 10, Illinois 5
The Wildcats (9-6) struck first in the opening inning on an RBI double to left center field, but Bauch answered with an RBI single to centerfield in the bottom have of the frame to even the score at 1-1.
After a leadoff double in the second, WSU retook the lead on a sac bunt fielder's choice for the 2-1 edge. They added to their lead with four runs on five hits and an error, highlighted by a two-run home down the left field line.
Despite the 6-3 deficit, the Illini continued to battle as junior Nicole Evans cut the lead to three on a two-run bomb to right center field, her third of the season and second of the weekend.
A three-run fifth inning for the Wildcats then doomed the Illini, who got two runs back on RBIs from sophomore Annie Fleming and senior Danielle Trezzo in the bottom of the sixth, but gave one back in the top of the seventh for the 10-5 defeat.
The Wildcats outhit the Illini, 13-8, with both teams committing multiple errors as WSU had two miscues and the Illini totaled four. Bauch posted a 3-for-3 effort with two runs and an RBI, with Evans adding two runs and two RBI. In her second start of the season and first at the designed player position, Trezzo delivered a 2-for-3 performance with one RBI.
Wonderly (3-3) suffered the loss and gave up six earned runs on eight hits in three and one-third innings. Edwards came in relief for her longest stint of the season, throwing three and two-third innings and giving up four runs – two earned – on five hits while also notching her first collegiate strikeout.
The Illini will wrap up play at the Texas Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 28) against Tulsa at 12 p.m. CT at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Fans will be able to watch the game on tape delay on the Longhorn Network following the Texas baseball game at 12:30 p.m.
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