SANTEE, Calif. – The Illinois softball team capped the San Diego Classic II with a 9-1 five-inning win over Seattle on a cloudy Sunday morning (March 20) at the Santee Complex in Santee, Calif., finishing the weekend with a 4-1mark.
The Illini, winners of their last 11 of 13 contests, improve to 18-8 on the season with their fourth run rile victory of 2016. Seattle falls to 10-15 with the loss.
Senior Allie Bauch went 2-for-2 with two triples and three runs scored for the Illini, who also got a 3-for-3 effort plus three RBI and two runs from junior Ruby Rivera. Freshman Stephanie Abello added two hits and tow RBI in the win.
Freshman Taylor Edwards continued her strong play in the circle and improved to 4-0 on the season with four and one-third innings of action, allowing just one run on four hits and five walks and notching one strikeout. Sophomore Kate Giddens entered in the fifth frame and finished off the Redhawks without allowing a hit in two-third innings of work.
The Illini jumped out quickly over Seattle as they scored three runs with two outs in the opening frame. Bauch started things off with her second triple of the season, before junior Nicole Evans and Rivera registered back-to-back doubles. Abello then topped it off with a single up the middle for the 3-0 lead.
Another two-out RBI single to right center from Rivera made the score 4-0 in the third, before SU broke up the shutout with an RBI double to right center from Erika Rodgers in the fourth.
A five-run inning in the fifth then shut the door on the Redhawks as the Illini posted a Bauch triple and four scoring singles in the game-deciding frame, highlighted by a two-run single from Rivera and RBI singles from Abello, sophomore Annie Fleming and sophomore pinch hitter Katie Gallagher.
The Illini outhit the Redhawks, 11-4, with SU committing three errors in the setback.
Lindsay Davis (1-5) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on four hits in one inning of work, with Alyssa Reuble finished the game for the Redhawks, allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings.
The Illini continue their California spring break trip on Tuesday (March 22) when they travel to Northridge, Calif., to face Cal State Northridge in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
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