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University of Illinois Athletics

Thomas, Carly vs. IUPUI
2
Michigan State MSU 27-28
3
Winner llinois ILL 35-20
Michigan State MSU
27-28
2
Final
3
llinois ILL
35-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Michigan State MSU 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 3
llinois ILL 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 6 0

W: Wonderly, Breanna (16-10) L: Zalewski, K. (15-15)

Game Recap: Softball |

Seventh Inning Rally Sends @IlliniSB Past Spartans in BTT

Illinois scores three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to advance in the Big Ten Tournament

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning against Michigan State, the Illinois softball team rallied to score three runs in a walk-off 3-2 win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on a beautiful Thursday (May 12) afternoon at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

With the win, the Illini earns their first Big Ten Tournament win since 2014 and improve to 35-20 on the season. UI advances to face second-seeded Minnesota on Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT.

It was a pitcher's duel throughout most of the contest as the two hurlers allowed just a combined four hits through the first five frames.

The Spartans (27-28) struck first, breaking up the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning as a single and hit-by-pitch gave MSU two runners on with two outs in the frame. Sarah Gutknecht then sent a double to deep right center to plate both runners and put MSU up 2-0.

With the Illini down two runs in the bottom of the seventh, junior Ruby Rivera started the rally with a leadoff single to right field. Redshirt-freshman Emily Brodner then put runners at the corners with one out on a single up the middle for sophomore Carly Thomas, who delivered an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to one.

Back-to-back Spartan errors then sealed the win for the Illini as senior Kylie Johnson laid down a hard-hit ball that was mishandled by the MSU first baseman to reach base and bring home sophomore pinch runner Jill Nicklas to even the score at 2-2. Senior Allie Bauch then notched an RBI with another Spartan miscue by the second baseman to plate Thomas and send the Illini to the 3-2 victory.

UI totaled six hits to the Spartans' three, while MSU committed three errors in the contest. Rivera and Brodner each registered a pair of hits in the win, with Thomas tallying a hit, a run and an RBI.

Junior Breanna Wonderly (16-10) went all seven innings for the Illini, holding the Spartans to just two runs on three hits and one walk.

Kristina Zalewski (15-15) took the loss after giving up three runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out five in 6.1 innings.

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.    

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