CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Illinois softball team opened play at the 2018 Big Ten/ACC Challenge with a gutsy 5-4 win over Pittsburgh in nine innings, before falling to host North Carolina, 6-2, in the day's second game in Anderson Stadium on Friday (February 16).
"We are a team that is steadily working to establish an identity," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We are starting to see hard nosed play in spurts from several players but we still need to make improvements in all facets of the game to win consistently. Alexis Carrillo showed a ton of heart and guts in both games today. She came up with a big hit when we needed it against Pitt."
Illinois 5, Pitt 4 // 9 innings
It was a quick start for both teams as Pitt started off the scoring with a solo home run to right center from Giorgiana Zeremenko in the opening frame, but the Illini came right back as redshirt-junior Carly Thomas evened things up with the Orange and Blue's first long ball of the season – and the first for Thomas since April 20, 2016 after sitting out last season due to injury. Junior Stephanie Abello kept things going with a single up the middle, before junior Rowan McGuire knocked her first homer of the year for a 3-1 lead.
Pitt battled back with three-unanswered runs on a solo home run in the third and a pair of scores in the fifth for the 4-3 edge heading into the seventh inning.
Down to their final out, junior Alexis Carrillo delivered a game-tying home run to deep center field to force extra innings.
After back-to-back singles from Abello and McGuire, senior Kate Giddens put down a strong bunt to advance the runner, before a Panther throwing error allowed freshman pinch runner Rhein Trochim to come home for the winning run.
Junior Taylor Edwards (1-3) earned her first win of the season after allowing just one unearned run on one hit and two walks and striking out two in 5.0 innings of relief. Classmate Emily Oestreich started the game and went 4.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out two in the outing.
The Illini registered nine hits and two errors, while the Panthers knocked four hits and suffered one error. McGuire posted a 3-for-4 performance with two RBI and one run to pace UI, with Abello adding two hits and a run in the win.
North Carolina 6, Illinois 2
The Tar Heels struck first with an RBI single through the left side in the opening inning, but the Illini responded to tie the score at 1-1 in the second as Abello doubled, before senior pinch runner Jill Nicklas stole third and was then brought home on an RBI sacrifice fly from Carrillo.
UNC answered back with an RBI fielder's choice to retake the lead, but again the Illini fought back to knot things at 2-2 in the fifth inning as Abello earned a bases-loaded walk to bring in the tying run.
The tie did not last long as the Tar Heels plated four runs in the bottom half of the fifth frame on five hits, including a solo home run and a two-run single to right field, for the 6-2 final.
Edwards took the loss after giving up six earned runs on seven hits and four walks and striking out two in 4.1 innings of action. Senior Erin Walker saw her first action of the season and entered in the fifth in an relief appearance, allowing two hits in 0.2 innings. Junior Danielle Brochu finished off the game for the Illini, allowing just one walk and not giving up a hit in 1.2 innings of work.
Both teams totaled nine hits, with the Illini committing one error in the contest. Senior Leigh Farina notched two hits in the setback, while Abello and Carrillo each turned in a hit and an RBI against the Tar Heels.
Next Up
The Illini continues action at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Saturday (February 17) against UNC, with the game time moved up to 1:30 p.m. CT due to forecasted rain.
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.
