CALEDONIA, Mich. – With a doubleheader sweep of Michigan State on Saturday (April 15) at Davenport University's Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, the Fighting Illini softball team earned their third Big Ten Conference series sweep of the season with an eight-inning 6-5 win in game one, before a 9-5 victory in game two.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Illini improve to 31-10 and 10-2 in the conference, while pushing their win streak to seven games, just two off their longest win streak of the season. MSU falls to 21-16 on the season and 5-8 in the league.
"I am very proud of my team's overall effort to take today's doubleheader and ultimately earn the sweep against Michigan State," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Leigh Farina and Maddi Doane were absolutely on fire and led our offense in all three games. Seeing those guys go to work at the bottom of the lineup is fun to watch."
"Breanna Wonderly and Taylor Edwards did a great job in their respective games. Kate Giddens came in during the seventh inning of game three and gave a hard nosed performance to secure the win."
Junior Leigh Farina had a career day, registering a .833 batting average on a 5-for-6 effort plus five hits – including two doubles – three RBI, a run and a 1.167 slugging percentage between the two games. Classmate Maddi Doane added a .667 average with four hits, three RBI and two runs.
Game One: Illinois 6, Michigan State 5 (8 innings)
A pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases in the opening frame for senior Ruby Rivera, who plated the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to centerfield field for the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans answered back in the bottom of the first with three runs on a two-run single to centerfield, before a third score on an attempted steal. A two-out solo home run to centerfield in the second then pushed the Illini deficit to 4-1.
A two-run fourth brought the Illini to within 4-3 with a Farina RBI single and a Doane sacrifice fly, but again MSU responded with a leadoff homer to left field in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing by two heading into the top of the seventh frame, junior Annie Fleming led off with a single down the left field line, before sophomore pinch hitter Stephanie Abello drew a walk to put two runners on. Redshirt-freshman pinch hitter Veronica Ruelius then delivered a two-run double to left field to tie the score at 5-5 and force extra innings.
After back-to-back singles from Doane and junior Kiana Sherlund and an MSU wild pitch, the Illini had the go-ahead run on third. Junior pinch hitter Rowan McGuire then drove Doane in on an RBI single to left field.
It would be all senior pitcher Breanna Wonderly (15-9) needed as she capped the victory with her lone strikeout of the day. Wonderly alllowd five runs (only two earned) on nine hits and a walk in the complete game win.
The Illini totaled 11 hits and four errors in the game, while the Spartans tallied nine hits and two miscues.
Illinois 9, Michigan State 5
Rivera got the Illini off to a quick start with a two-run home run to left center in the opening inning, but an RBI triple from the Spartans in the bottom half of the first cut the lead to 2-1.
The Illini pushed their advantage to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the second on a Doane RBI single through the right side and an MSU error, but again the Spartans responded with a pair of solo home runs in bottom of the inning to close within 4-3.
After a Farina RBI single in the third made it 5-3 in favor of the Illini, the Spartans used a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to knot the score at 5-5.
The Illini battled back to put up a four-spot in the fifth as senior Nicole Evans led off with her 14th dinger of the season and the 49th of her career, moving her within two long balls of tying Angelena Mexicano's career home run record of 51. UI then added runs on a Farina double to centerfield, followed by a Doane single to right field, before the Syracuse transfer came home on a MSU error to give the Illini a 9-5 lead.
Sophomore Taylor Edwards (13-1) earned the win after entering in the second frame for junior starter Erin Walker (3 ER, 4 H, 1.1 IP) and gave up just two runs on six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of work. Junior Kate Giddens relieved Edwards in the top of the seventh and secured three-straight outs, including back-to-back strikeouts looking.
UI recorded 11 hits and two errors in the day's second game, while MSU posting 10 hits and three errors.
Illinois returns to action for a midweek contest against Butler on Wednesday (April 19) at Eichelberger Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.
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