EVANSTON, Ill. – Despite senior Nicole Evans tying the program record for career home runs with her 51st long ball in the day's opening game, the Fighting Illini softball team dropped a doubleheader at Northwestern, 7-3 and 4-3, on a cold Wednesday (May 3) afternoon at Drysdale Field.
With the setback, the Illini fall to 35-15 and 13-6 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats improve to 22-27 and 8-12 in the league standings. Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the Illini sit in third place and are a game ahead of this coming weekend's opponent Ohio State and Nebraska, who are tied at 13-7 in the conference standings.
Game One: Northwestern 7, Illinois 4
It was a strong start to the day's first game as senior Ruby Rivera crushed a two-run home run off the wall of nearby Welsh-Ryan Arena following a four-ball walk to classmate Alyssa Gunther earlier in the inning. It was her third homer of the season.
The Wildcats responded with four unearned runs on two Illini throwing errors and three hits in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead.
Evans cut the deficit to one with a solo bomb to left field, notching her 16th dinger of the season and 51st of her career to tie her with former Illini great Angelena Mexicana for the all-time program record for career homers.
NU then pushed its lead back to four runs with a two-run double in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth.
Sophomore Stephanie Abello looked to start an Illini rally with a leadoff long back to right field – her 11th homer of the season – but it would it for the visitors in the seventh.
As a team, the Illini totaled six hits, but were hampered by two errors. Rivera led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort to go along with two RBI and a run.
Senior Breanna Wonderly (18-12) took the loss after allowing seven runs – only three earned – on 10 hits and a walk and struck out three in a complete game.
Game Two: Northwestern 4, Illinois 3
NU opened the scoring in game two with an RBI sacrifice fly in the opening frame, but the Illini answered back with a pair of runs in the third on an RBI single to left center from junior Maddi Doane and an RBI infield single from junior pinch hitter Rowan McGuire.
The lead did not last long as the Wildcats plated three runs in the bottom of the third behind an RBI double, an RBI infield single and a double steal for the 4-2 advantage.
The Illini cut the deficit to one in the fourth as junior Leigh Farina drove in classmate Annie Fleming with an RBI single to centerfield, and had opportunities in the fifth and sixth innings with runners at third, but could not capitalize for the tying run.
The Illini tallied six hits, but suffered three errors in the contest, with Doane turning in a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI and a run. Farina added a hit, a run and an RBI for UI.
Wonderly also took the loss in game two, allowing four runs – three earned – on three hits and three walks and struck out one. Junior Erin Walker entered in relief in the third inning and gave up just four hits in four frames of action.
Illinois next wraps up its regular season this weekend as Ohio State comes to Eichelberger Field for a three-game series on May 5-7. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT on Friday and 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will also be the annual World's Largest Softball Tailgate and Senior Day, with WLST beginning at 11 a.m., and the senior ceremony taking place after the conclusion of the game. Friday and Saturday's games will both be broadcasted on WDWS 1400, with Sunday's contest also airing on BTN.
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.
