UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Illinois softball team split its doubleheader with Penn State, taking game one 2-1, before dropping game two, 4-1, on a sunny Saturday (May 7) afternoon at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.
The Illini and the Nittany Lions were originally scheduled for single games on Friday and Saturday, but rain in the area on Friday forced the schedule to change to a doubleheader on Satutday.
The game two setback snaps the Illini's six-game wining streak and moves UI's record to 33-20 overall and 11-11 in the Big Ten Conference. PSU moves to 29-22 and 14-8 in the league.
"Penn State is a good program," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We fought hard in the first game to secure the win. We had our chances in the second game but did not get the timely hit we needed. Tomorrow means a lot to us and we will fight hard."
Game One: Illinois 2, Penn State 1
After three and a half of scoreless innings, the Nittany Lions struck first on a sacrifice foul out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.
The Illini responded with a two-run fifth frame as junior Nicole Evans drove in senior Allie Bauch on a triple down the right field line, her third of the season and of her career. Sophomore Annie Fleming then doubled to the left field fence to plate Evans and give the Illini a 2-1 lead.
That would be all junior pitcher Breanna Wonderly and the Illini defense need as they held PSU to just two hits in the final three innings.
Wonderly (15-10) allowed just one run on eight hits and three walks and struck out one in a complete game victory.
Both teams totaled eight hits in the contest, with the Nittany Lions committing one error. Senior Danielle Trezzo and junior Ruby Rivera each notched two hits in the win, with Evans registering a hit, a run and an RBI in the game.
Marlaina Laubach (11-11) gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks in seven innings of work.
Game Two: Penn State 4, Illinois 1
A solo home run from PSU's Macy Jones started off the day's second game, but the Illini responded in the third as Bauch evened the score at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home sophomore Carly Thomas after she reached on a fielder's choice.
The tie did not last long as the Nittany Lions took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth as an Illini error put a runner on, before Kristina Brackpool knocked a two-run homer to right field.
PSU added a run on an RBI single to centerfield in the fifth to earn a 4-1 win.
The Illini recorded three hits and one error in the loss, with senior Kylie Johnson going 2-for-2 to lead the Orange and Blue.
Wonderly went all six innings for the Illini, allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits in the setback.
PSU totaled nine hits in the win as Madison Seifert (12-5) earned the win after holding the Illini to just one run on three hits and a pair of walks in a complete game.
The Illini and Nittany Lions will wrap up the three-game series with a single game on Sunday (May 8) at 12 p.m. CT in the Nittany Lion Softball Park.
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