MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – On a cold and windy Saturday (April 9) afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, the Fighting Illini softball team dropped their doubleheader to No. 22 Minnesota, 13-0 in five innings in game one and 6-5 in game two.
With the doubleheader setback, the Illini fall to 23-14 on the season and 3-5 in the Big Ten, while the Gophers improve to 26-10 and 7-1 in the conference standings.
Game One: Minnesota 13, Illinois 0
It was a rough start to the doubleheader for the Illini as the Gophers used eight hits, including two two-run triples – the first three-baggers given up by the Illini pitching staff this season – and a two-run home run to build a 9-0 lead in the opening inning of game one.
The Gophers then sealed the win with a grand slam in the fourth to take game one, 13-0.
The Illini registered two hits and an error, while the Gophers had 13 knocks in the contest. Senior Allie Bauch and redshirt-freshman Emily Brodner each posted hits for the Illini.
Junior pitcher Jade Vecvanags (10-9) gave up six runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss. Sophomore Kate Giddens came in relief and allowed seven runs on eight hits in two and a third innings of action, while freshman Taylor Edwards did not allow a hit in an inning of action in the fifth frame.
Kylie Stober (3-3) earned the win with three innings of work, allowing just two hits and a walk in the outing.
Game Two: Minnesota 6, Illinois 5
It looked to be a quick start for the Illini in the day's second game when junior Nicole Evans blasted an apparent two-run homer to left centerfield after Bauch singled to second base earlier in the frame. However, the play was nullified after the first base umpired called that Bauch left from first base early for the third out in the inning.
Minnesota then struck in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI double to left centerfield, but the lead did not last long as Evans was scored on an RBI double to left center from junior Ruby Rivera in the second inning.
The back and forth action continued as the Gophers went up 2-1 with an RBI single to centerfield in the second, but the Illini answered right back in the fourth as senior Danielle Trezzo delivered a two-out RBI double down the left field line to even the score at 2-2.
The Gophers then grabbed the lead back for good with a pair of solo home runs to centerfield in the fifth frame, before adding a pair of insurance runs on a two-run shot to centerfield from Sydney Dwyer in the sixth.
Despite the deficit, the Illini battled back to cut the lead to 6-5 with three runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run on third base. Sophomore Carly Thomas led off the frame with an infield single and was then doubled in from Bauch for the inning's first run. After an Evans single put runners at the corners, sophomore Annie Fleming notched an RBI groundout to plate Bauch. Back-to-back wild pitches then made it 6-5 with Rivera on third, but the Illini would be unable to bring her home.
The Illini totaled 10 hits to the Gophers' 11, with Bauch and Trezzo each posting a pair of hits.
Junior pitcher Breanna Wonderly (8-5) suffered the defeat after allowing six runs on 11 hits in five and one-thirds innings.
Nikki Anderson (5-3) earned the win and gave up just two runs on five hits in three and two-thirds innings of work.
The Illini will look to bounce back in Sunday's (April 10) series finale at 12 p.m. CT in Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
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