NORMAL, Ill. – Behind strong performances from juniors Jade Vecvanags and Nicole Evans and sophomore Annie Fleming, the Fighting Illini softball team dominated Illinois State in an in-state battle on a cold Tuesday (April 5) evening at Marian Kneer Stadium.
With the win, the Illini improve to 23-11 on the season, while the Redbirds fall to 10-24 in 2016.
"I was really proud of our effort tonight," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Our team loves softball, so anytime there is a chance to throw the ball and play, even if sleets falling from the sky or the wind is blowing and whipping in your face, these guys are ready to go and tonight they were ready to go."
"I thought Jade was awesome tonight. She has been working on a couple of things here and there and tonight she really focused on those things - just getting in her rhythm and feeling good – and I felt like we saw that in her performance."
Vecvanags (10-8) earned her 10th win of the season after holding ISU to just one run on four hits in six innings of action and did not allowed a Redbird hit for the first four and two-thirds innings of the game.
Evans and Fleming paced the Illini offense with Evans' equaling a team-high for hits in a game with a 4-for-4 effort at the dish to go along with two runs and two RBI, while Fleming went 3-for-3 on the night, knocking her first home run of the season and adding two RBI and a run.
After starting off the game with a leadoff walk in the opening frame, sophomore Carly Thomas put the Illini on the board quickly when junior Alyssa Gunther reached on a three-base throwing error. Evans then drove in Gunther on a single up the middle to make it 2-0 in favor of the Illini.
A three-run third inning added to the Illini lead as Evans delivered an RBI double to deep right center, before Fleming bombed a long ball over the left centerfield fence for the 5-0 edge.
The Redbirds broke up the no-hitter in the fifth on a single through the right side, before breaking up the shutout with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the sixth inning.
Leading by four heading into the seventh, the Illini added on a pair of insurance runs as senior pinch hitter Danielle Trezzo singled up the middle to plate Evans from second base. Redshirt-freshman Emily Brodner then made it 7-1 with single to centerfield to score Trezzo.
The Illini outhit ISU, 14-5, with both teams committing one error in the contest. Gunther added a pair of runs and a hit, while Brodner notched two hits and an RBI in the win.
Sophomore Kate Giddens made her ninth appearance of the season and pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing just one hit and striking out one in the outing.
Ali Domkuski (3-7) took the loss for the Redbirds after allowing five runs on seven hits in three innings of work.
Illinois next travels north for its first Big Ten Conference road series of the season as the Illini take on No. 21/22 Minnesota in a three-game series on April 8-10 in Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Game times for the weekend are 6, 1 and 12 p.m. CT, respectively, with all three games to be streamed on BTN Plus.
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.
