URBANA, Ill. – It was another windy day at Eichelberger Field as the Illinois softball team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rutgers in its Big Ten Conference series finale on Sunday (April 3).
The Illini move to 22-12 on the season and fall to 3-3 in the Big Ten, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 17-20 and 2-4 in the conference standings.
"We did not make adjustments fast enough," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We had a lot of giveaway at-bats. We are in the Big Ten; you have to hit the ball. We know that and normally we do, but today we could not quite find a break and could not quite get solid contact. We will continue to work on that and do better next game."
It was a rough start to the game for the Illini as a leadoff walk turned into a 1-0 Rutgers lead following three passed balls to move Stephanie Huang around the bases.
Rutgers made it 2-0 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to right field from pinch hitter Bridget Carr with the bases loaded, before adding an insurance run on a solo home run from Sierra Maddox in the sixth.
Senior Allie Bauch broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth with her fifth homer of the season on a solo shot down the left field line to put the Illini within 3-1, but a seventh inning rally would not happen as the Illini dropped its first conference series of the season.
The Knights outhit the Illini for the second-straight game, 6-3, with RU hampered by one error on the day. Along with Bauch's homer, sophomore Carly Thomas and senior Remeny Perez contributed hits for the Illini.
Junior pitcher Jade Vecvanags (9-8) started and threw three innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits and struck out three to take the loss. Classmate Breanna Wonderly came on in the fourth and allowed just one earned run on four hits in four innings of action.
Shayla Sweeney (5-4) pitched a complete game to pick up the win for the Knights.
The Fighting Illini next returns to midweek action when they travel to Normal, Ill., for a single game against Illinois State on Tuesday (April 5) at 5 p.m. CT in Marian Kneer Stadium.
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.
