WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With the game tied at 6-6 in the sixth inning, junior Nicole Evans launched her 10th home run of the season, a three-run bomb to left field, to lift the Fighting Illini softball team to a 10-6 win over Purdue in the series rubber match on a beautiful Sunday (April 17) afternoon in Boilermaker Stadium.
"Today's game was a great, hard-fought win," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Breanna Wonderly showed a huge amount of heart, fight and guts in the circle and the team rallied behind her and played Fighting Illini softball. Purdue is a good team and to get the series win against them showed what this team is made of and what we are capable of."
With the win, the Illini (25-18, 5-9 Big Ten) earned their second conference series win of the season.
For the third-straight contest, junior pitcher Breanna Wonderly (10-8) threw every inning for the Illini and earned her 10th win of the season after allowing six runs, five earned runs, on eight hits and struck out two in a complete game effort.
The Illini broke through in the second when senior Kylie Johnson notched an RBI single through the right side for the game's first run, before Evans reached on a fielding error by the Boilermaker second baseman, scoring two on the play.
A Boilermaker leadoff triple, followed by an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second broke up the shutout, but UI responded with three runs in the fourth on a wild pitch, following by an RBI fielder's choice from sophomore Annie Fleming and a sacrifice fly from senior Danielle Trezzo.
A four-run fifth frame for the Boilermakers (24-20, 6-8 Big Ten), highlighted by a three-run triple to deep right center evened the score at 6-6, but not for long as Evans answered with her three-run bomb to left field to push the Illini ahead, 9-6.
Junior Alyssa Gunther capped the win with an RBI groundout in the top of the seventh.
The Illini collected five hits and a pair of errors, while the Boilermakers tallied eight hits and two miscues. Johnson led the Illini at the plate with two hits, two runs and an RBI, while Evans went 1-for-3 with a run, four RBI and two walks. Bauch added a hit and two runs in the win.
Lilly Fecho (16-10) took the loss after giving up three runs, one earned run, on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.
Following three-straight conference series, the Illini will take a break from Big Ten action for a midweek contest against Eastern Illinois next Wednesday (April 20) at 5 p.m. CT in Eichelberger Field.
For more Fighting Illini softball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow the team on Twitter @IlliniSB or like Fighting Illini Softball on Facebook.
