SANTEE, Calif. – The Illinois softball team started off their California spring break trip on a winning note with a pair of wins on the first day of the San Diego Classic II on Friday (March 18) at the Santee Complex in Santee, Calif. The Illini opened with a 5-4 win over Long Beach State, before defeating Weber State in a back-and-forth 7-5 nail biter.
The Illini, winners of eight of their last nine games, including five-straight, move their overall record to 16-7 on the season, while LBSU drops to 17-10 and Weber State falls to 13-10.
"Today was a good day overall," said head coach Tyra Perry. "One of the main things we were excited about was that we were able to use a full staff. Kate Giddens came in and did a great job of backing up Jade Vecvanags in the first game against Long beach, who is a great hitting team. We also had Taylor Edwards come in our game against Weber State and do an excellent job. Even though there was a tight zone, she was able to get the outs that we needed to keep us in the game and to help us win the game."
"I was really excited about Alyssa Gunther. She had been slumping just a little bit, but she was able to overcome that today and played tremendously on offense and defense. She is one of our leaders on the team, comes to work and works hard every single day and deserves all the success that she gets. One of our seniors, Allie Bauch, was also excellent in her position at second base and made a lot of plays. We have really been really after her to make those plays and she was able to do that today. It was just a solid performance overall. It is always a great day when you can get two wins over two tough teams. We are looking forward to coming out again tomorrow and playing great softball."
Junior Alyssa Gunther was the standout player of the day for the Illini as the Tinley Park, Ill., native went 4-for-6 on the day with a double and her second home run of the season, to go along with two runs, a team-high five RBIs and a 1.333 slugging percentage. Defensively, she collected 15 putouts for a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Sophomore Carly Thomas was also a big contributor on the day, also going 4-fo-6 with three runs scored and an RBI. Thomas also made a number of strong catches in centerfield, including a home run-stealing grab against Weber State.
Illinois 5, Long Beach State 4
The Illini opened the scoring in the third frame with Gunther notching a two-out, two-run double through the left side for the early lead.
The 2-0 edge would hold until the fifth when LBSU tied it up on two unearned runs coming on an Illini fielding error and a bases-loaded walk, but the UI responded in the following frame with three runs on a RBI groundout from senior Remeny Perez and a two-RBI single to centerfield from freshman Stephanie Abello.
LBSU made things interesting with a pair of runs to cut the deficit to one, but sophomore Kate Giddens and the Illini defense stepped up to close out the 5-4 win.
The Illini totaled six hits and two errors, while the Beach registered five hits and one error.
Junior Jade Vecvanags started the game and allowed two unearned runs on two hits and struck out three in four and two-thirds innings, before Giddens (1-0) entered in the fifth and allowed two runs on three hits to earn her first win of the season and just her second win of her collegiate career.
Christina Clermont (10-3) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on six hits in six innings of action.
Illinois 7, Weber State 5
The Wildcats struck first with two runs in the first inning, but the Illini chipped away at the lead with back-to-back innings with home runs as junior Ruby Rivera knocked her first four-bagger of the season in the second and Gunther pushed the Illini ahead with a two-run shot in the third.
WSU tied it up in the next frame on a RBI-double to right center, but the Illini took the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth on a triple through the left side from senior Kylie Johnson.
Both team's bats went quiet in the fifth, before waking up again in the sixth inning as the Wildcats grabbed a 5-4 lead on two unearned runs. Down one, the Illini rallied for the third time in the game with three runs on four hits and an error, highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles from Johnson and Thomas.
It was another interesting seventh inning for the Illini as WSU loaded the bases with two outs before freshman pitcher Taylor Edwards secured the final out with a ground out to second base.
UI outhit WSU, 12-9, with both teams hampered by an error.
Junior Breanna Wonderly started the contest and went five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits and struck out three. Edwards (3-0) relieved Wonderly in the sixth and allowed just two hits in one and one-third innings of work to earn the win.
Baylee Reeves (3-4) allowed four earned runs on seven hits in four innings to take the loss for WSU.
The Illini continue play at the San Diego Classic II with a pair of games on Saturday (March 19), taking on St. Mary's College at 4 p.m. CT and San Jose State at 6:30 p.m.
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