BATON ROUGE, La. – The Fighting Illini softball opened the second day of the LSU Invitational with a dramatic 4-3 win over Troy in nine innings, before falling to No. 13/12 LSU on Saturday (March 4) night at Tiger Park.
The Illini, who were riding a five-game win streak before facing the tournament host Tigers, move to 11-6 on the season.
"We started the day with a hard fought win against a tough Troy team," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Erin Walker came into a difficult situation and did her job to get the win."
"We had our chances tonight against LSU but were not able to capitalize. We have to keep growing and developing as a team and the wins against top teams will come."
Game One: Illinois 4, Troy 3 // Nine Innings
Senior Nicole Evans struck first for the Illini in the top of the third inning with a three-run home run to center field, scoring sophomore Kiana Sherlund and senior Alyssa Gunther, both who singled earlier in the frame. It was Evans' team-leading seventh long ball of the season.
The Trojans got on the board in the sixth inning with an RBI fielder's choice, before tying the score at 3-3 with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, followed by a sacrifice fly to center field.
After a leadoff walk from redshirt-freshman Veronica Ruelius in the top of the ninth, junior Maddi Doane sent a single to left centerfield to plate junior pinch runner Jill Nicklas for the 4-3 lead.
Junior Erin Walker (2-0) entered in the bottom of the seventh and allowed just a hit and walk in 2.1 scoreless innings of work to earn the win. Sophomore Taylor Edwards started the contest and went 6.2 innings, giving up three runs, only two earned, on five hits and three walks.
The Illini totaled seven hits to the Trojans' six, with Troy suffering one error. Evans turned in a 2-for-4 effort with three RBI and a run for the Illini, while Gunther and Sherlund added a run and a hit and Doane contributed a hit and an RBI.
Game Two: #13/12 LSU 3, Illinois 0
It was a pitching duel in the nightcap, with neither team plating a run until the fifth inning, when the Tigers broke the scoreless tie with three unearned scores.
After a leadoff walk, followed by a double to put runners at second and third, the Illini looked to get out of the inning unscathed with back-to-back outs. LSU then loaded the bases with the second walk of the inning, before a fielding error by junior Leigh Farina allowed two runs to come home. The Tigers then added a third tally on an RBI single up the middle.
Senior Breanna Wonderly (3-5) has another strong outing despite taking the loss and allowed the three unearned runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out three in 6.0 innings.
The Illini totaled five hits and an error on the night, with Fleming notching two hits, with Sherlund, Evans and Farina knocking the other three.
Illinois concludes play at the LSU Invitational on Sunday (March 5) with a rematch against Troy at 9 a.m. CT in Tiger Park.
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