@IlliniSB B1G Tournament Run Ends with 2-0 Setback to Gophers

Friday, May 13

University Park, Pa.

1:30 PM CT

University of Illinois

35-21

Minnesota

39-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
llinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Minnesota	0	0	0	1	0	1	X	2	9	0

@IlliniSB B1G Tournament Run Ends with 2-0 Setback to Gophers

May 13, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior Alyssa Gunther snags Illini lone hit of game

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Illinois softball team ended its run in the 2016 Big Ten Softball Tournament with a 2-0 setback in the quarterfinals to second-seeded Minnesota on a cloudy Friday (May 13) afternoon at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

With the loss, the Illini move to 35-21 on the season and will await their NCAA Tournament fate, which will be revealed during the 2016 NCAA Division I Softball Championship selection show on Sunday (May 15) night at 9 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

The Gophers (39-12) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning as back-to-back infield singles put a pair of runners on for Sydney Fabian, who singled through the right side to plate a run and give Minnesota a 1-0 advantage.

The Illini looked to rally in the sixth as junior Alyssa Gunther broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single to right center, before classmate Nicole Evans earned a walk to put two on with no outs in the inning. A sacrifice bunt from sophomore Annie Fleming advanced the runners and put the tying run just 60 feet away from home plate, but the Illini could not capitalize on the opportunity as Gunther and sophomore pinch runner Jill Nicklas were stranded on base.

Minnesota then added an insurance run on a Sam Macken RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 2-0 win.

Junior pitcher Breanna Wonderly (16-11) allowed just the two runs on nine hits, while striking out three in six innings of work.

Gopher pitcher Sara Groenewegen (28-5) held the Illini to just one hit and three walks and struck out nine in a complete game win.

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.