CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Fighting Illini softball team plated 24 runs on the day to start play at the Clearwater Spring Break Classic with a pair of wins, first defeating LIU, 11-3 in six innings, before earning a dramatic 13-12 victory over Chattanooga, on Friday (March 17) at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
"We are excited to start the tournament with a pair of wins," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Our first game against LIU was a group effort anchored by a solid defensive performance by Leigh Farina and the hot bats of Kiana Sherlund and Veronica Ruelius. Our Chattanooga game had several exciting moments early in the game however we gave away too many freebies in the sixth inning. Our motto after that rough point was to "win anyway" and we were able to pull together to finish the game on top."
Illinois 11, LIU 3 (6 inn.)
The Blackbirds jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a one-run second inning and a two-run third, but it did not last long as sophomore Kiana Sherlund tied things up in the third as she knocked her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot to centerfield.
Redshirt-freshman Veronica Ruelius then put the Illini (14-7) up for good in the fourth with her first career homer with a two-run long ball to right centerfield, before junior Maddi Doane added to the lead with a two-RBI single down the left field line later in the frame.
Junior Rowan McGuire made her first Illini appearance count in the fifth with an RBI single through the right side for the 8-3 edge. The Illini then sealed the run-rule victory with a three-run sixth inning as redshirt-sophomore Emily Brodner delivered a walk-off RBI single up the middle.
Senior Breanna Wonderly (5-6) earned the win after giving up three runs, with only one earned, on three hits and a walk and striking out two in 4.0 innings of action. Freshman Akilah Mouzon notched her first career save with two hitless innings, posting one strikeout in the appearance.
The Illini outhit the Blackbirds 11 to three, with Sherlund collecting two runs, two hits and four RBI. Ruelius added two hits, two RBI and a run and Doane contributed a hit and two RBI.
Illinois 13, Chattanooga 12
The Illini struck first in the opening frame as junior Annie Fleming scored on a UTC throwing error after senior Alyssa Gunther attempted to steal home.
A three-run fourth inning put the Illini up 4-0 with Gunther starting off the scoring with an RBI grounder to shortstop, followed by RBI singles from Fleming and sophomore Stephanie Abello.
The Mocs answered back in the bottom half of the frame to cut the advantage to 4-2 with three-straight hits, capped by an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to left center.
The Illini then took control with a four-run fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from Ruelius, and a five-run sixth that included a two-run triple from senior Nicole Evans for a 13-3 lead.
Heading into the sixth with the Illini looking to finish off the win, the Mocs responded with nine runs to cut the lead to 13-12 as the Illini pitchers gave up six walks in the frame to go along with four UTC hits.
Sophomore Taylor Edwards (7-1) started the game and re-entered in the seventh to secure her seventh win of the season. Edwards allowed just two earned runs on five hits and struck out one in five innings of work. Junior Erin Walker, sophomore Danielle Brochu, freshman Hanna Nilsen and Mouzon all saw action in the circle for the Illini.
The Illini totaled 12 hits to UTC's 11, with the Mocs committing six errors and the Illini suffering one miscue. Fleming led the Illini offensively, with a 3-for-5 performance to go along with four runs and two RBI. Evans and Ruelius each added a hit and two RBI, with Doane posting two hits and two runs.
Illinois continues play at the Clearwater Spring Break Classic on Saturday (March 18), facing off against No. 4/2 Auburn at 11 a.m. CT, followed by a 3:45 p.m. contest against tournament host USF at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
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.
