URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois softball team used a six-run inning in the fourth frame to run past Indiana State, 9-0, in five innings in the Illini's home finale at Eichelberger Field on Wednesday (May 4) night.
It was the fifth-straight win for the Illini and improves their record to 32-19 on the season, while the Sycamores fall to 14-33 in 2016.
It was a busy night on the base paths for the Illini, who set a program record with eight stolen bases in the game. Senior Danielle Trezzo led the way with three stolen bases, which equals the program record for stolen bases in a single contest. The Downers Grove, Ill., native added a hit, a run and two RBI in the victory.
The Illini also got contributions from senior Kylie Johnson, who led the attack with a 2-for-2 effort to go along with a run, an RBI and two stolen bases, and junior Carly Thomas, who registered two hits, a run and a stolen base.
In the circle, junior Jade Vecvanags (12-10) notched her second-straight run-rule shutout win after allowing just three hits and a walk and striking out three in four innings of work. Sophomore Kate Giddens pitched a one-hit fifth frame in her 13th appearance of the season.
A pair of RBI singles in the second from redshirt-freshman Emily Brodner and Johnson gave the Illini an early lead, before Trezzo knocked her first triple of the season and just the second of her career to plate sophomore Annie Fleming for the 3-0 advantage.
The Illini broke the score open in the fourth with six runs on six hits and an ISU error to take control at 9-0. UI started the frame with five-straight hits, including an RBI single from senior Allie Bauch, followed by a two-run single up the middle from junior Alyssa Gunther and an RBI double to left field from junior Nicole Evans.
A two-run error by the ISU shortstop to allow Trezzo to reach base sealed the run-rule victory.
Bailey Benefiel (8-24) suffered the setback for the Sycamores after giving up eight runs on eight hits and four walks in three innings of action.
The Fighting Illini will next head to University Park, Pa., where they will wrap up the 2016 regular season against Penn State with the final three-game Big Ten Conference series of the season on May 6-8 at Nittany Lion Softball Park. Game times are slated for 5 p.m. CT on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday.
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.
