CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Fighting Illini softball team scored early and often en route to an 11-0 five-inning shutout win over East Carolina on the final day of the USF Under Armour Invitational on Sunday (March 6) at the ECM Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
The Illini finished the tournament with a 4-1 record and improve to 12-7 on the season, while the Pirates fall to 13-9.
"Though we wanted to go undefeated on the weekend, to have a 4-1 record was great," said head coach Tyra Perry. "The offense exploded today, which was nice to close out a team early. Taylor Edwards came out once again and had a strong performance in the circle. We will now look forward to a week of practice before our home opener on March 15."
Sophomore Carly Thomas paced the Illini offense with a 2-for-3 effort with both hits going for extra bases to go along with three runs and two RBI, while junior Nicole Evans also went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs. Junior Alyssa Gunther added three runs and senior Allie Bauch had two RBI, a hit and a run.
Junior Jade Vecvanags started the game and gave up just one hit before freshman Taylor Edwards (2-0) entered in the second frame and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and one base-on-balls and striking out two in her second collegiate win. Sophomore Kate Giddens finished off the game with a three-up, three-down fifth inning.
The Illini scored four runs in the first two innings and added three runs in the third for a quick 11-0 score. Thomas led off the game with her team co-leading fourth home run of the season, before RBI sacrifice flies from Bauch and junior Ruby Rivera and an RBI double from sophomore Annie Fleming gave UI a early 4-0 lead.
Thomas continued her hot streak in the second with an RBI double to right center field. Later in the inning, the Illini loaded the bases and then took advantage of an ECU error and a wild pitch. Rivera then pushed the edge to 8-0 on an RBI double to left center field.
Bauch and Evans combined in the third to plate three runs in the third as Bauch notched an RBI single and Evans registered her first career triple to plate the final two Illini runs of the day. From there, Edwards and the Illini defense kept ECU off the base paths with 10-straight putouts to end the game.
Lydie Ritchie (7-2) took the loss for the Pirate after allowing four runs on four hits in two and two-thirds innings of work.
The Illini will break for a week before making their 2016 home debut at Eichelberger Field with a doubleheader against IUPUI on Tuesday, March 15 starting at 2 p.m. ET.
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