FRESNO, Calif. – The Illinois softball team made it six-straight wins with a doubleheader sweep of host Fresno State on day one of the Fresno State Friendly following a three-hour rain delay prior to first pitch at Margie Wright Diamond on Friday (March 16) evening.
The Illini (15-8) battled back from a deficit in both contests, winning 10-9 in game one, before toughing out an 8-5 victory in nine innings in game two.
Senior Leigh Farina hit an impressive .714 on the day with five hits, including two doubles, five runs, and an RBI, while junior Kiana Sherlund posted a .600 average with team-highs of six hits, two of which went as triples, and three runs as well as three RBI. Freshman Maddison Demers added three hits, four RBI and two runs for the Illini.
Quotable
"We showed a lot of heart tonight after going through a lengthy rain delay. Our bats kept us in both games along with gutsy pitching by Akilah Mouzon." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
Game 1: Illinois 10, Fresno State 9
After falling behind 7-0 through the first two innings of the day's opening game, the Illini rallied to score 10 unanswered runs to earn their fifth-straight win with back-to-back four-run frames, followed by two-run inning in the sixth.
Demers got things started in the fourth with a three-run home run – her third of the season – with Sherlund following up with an RBI triple to bring the freshman home.
Demers continued the rally in the fifth with an RBI single, before a Farina RBI double and the second-straight RBI triple from Sherlund. The Fairfax, Va., native then came home on a wild pitch to give the Illini their first lead of the game at 8-7.
After the Illini added a couple of insurance runs in the sixth – including the second career homer for freshman Bella Loya, FSU tried to rally itself with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but a running catch at the fence from senior Maddi Doane sealed the 10-9 victory.
Sophomore Akilah Mouzon (1-0) earned her first career win in a strong relief effort as she allowed just two runs – only one earned – on four hits and struck out two in 5.1 innings. Junior starter Emily Oestreich (9-3) went 1.2 frames, giving up seven earned runs on four hits and two walks
The Illini collected 14 hits, but had two miscues in the contest. Demers paced the squad at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with four RBI and a run, with Sherlund adding a 3-for-5 effort with two RBI and a run. Farina also turned in two hits, two runs and an RBI in the win.
Game 2: Illinois 8, Fresno State 5 // 9 innings
FSU again jumped out to an early lead – this time a 3-0 edge on an RBIs single in the first and a pair of scores in the second, but senior Sam Acosta responded for the Illini with an RBI groundout in the third.
With Farina and Sherlund on first and second in the fifth, the Hoffman Estates, Ill., native then notched her second RBI of the game on a single to right field, before a fielding error allowed both Sherlund and Acosta to score and give the Illini the 4-3 lead.
A solo home run from FSU in the bottom of the fifth knotted things at 4-4, but the tie did not last long as Loya sent her second bomb of the day and third career homer over the centerfield fence in the top of the sixth.
Down to their final out, the Bulldogs then tie the score at 5-5 with a solo shot to center in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Farina led off the ninth with a double, before Sherlund brought in the go-ahead score on an RBI single through the right side. The Illini then added two more runs on an RBI fielder's choice from senior Rowan McGuire.
It would be all Oestreich needed as the right-hander entered in the bottom of the eight and did not allow a hit, while walking three and striking out two to register the win in two innings of action.
Junior starter Taylor Edwards went four frames, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and two walks, with Mouzon throwing three innings of relief and giving up just one earned run on two hits and a walk and striking out one.
As a team, the Illini posted eight hits, with Sherlund going 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI and Farina notching a 3-for-3 performance with three runs.
What's Next
The Illini wraps up play at the Fresno State Friendly with a Saturday (March 17) doubleheader against Cal Poly beginning at 3 p.m. CT in Margie Wright Diamond.
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.
