FRESNO, Calif. – The Illinois softball team collected its seventh win in the last eight contests and head coach Tyra Perry earned her 500th career win as the Illini split their doubleheader with Cal Poly on Saturday (March 17) afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond.
The Illini dropped the day's first game, 4-3, in eight innings, before rallying for a 5-3 win in game two to finish the Fresno State Friendly tournament with a 3-1 record.
Junior Kiana Sherlund paced the Illini offense with a .556 batting average on a team-high 10 hits – including a pair of triples and a home run – as well as five RBI and five runs. Senior Leigh Farina was also impressive with a .462 average with six hits – including two doubles – six runs and an RBI, while freshman Bella Loya added five hits, including three going as home runs, four RBI and four runs on the weekend.
Quotable
"We had a good weekend overall. 4-0 was our goal but we fell short in the first game today against Cal Poly. Akilah Mouzon was a catalyst for us in the circle. Solid defensive play combined with timely hitting from Alexis Carrillo and Veronica Ruelius in game two helped us finish on top." - Head coach Tyra Perry.
What Happened
Game 1: Cal Poly 4, Illinois 3 // 8 innings
The Illini struck first as senior Maddi Doane brought in the game's first run on an RBI single to right field in the top of the first, but the Mustangs answered back with an RBI triple in the first, before taking a 3-1 lead on a sac fly and RBI single in the third.
Loya continued her hot streak with a solo bomb to left center to close within a run in the fourth. It was the rookie's fourth career home run and third of the weekend.
The Illini continued the comeback in the fifth as Farina tripled to start the frame, before coming home on a Sherlund RBI single down the left field line to knot the score at 3-3.
After neither team could scratch a run across in regulation, the game headed to extras with the international tiebreaker rule in effect where Cal Poly took the win on a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
Sophomore Akilah Mouzon (2-1) took the loss despite allowing just one run on three hits in 4.1 innings of relief work. Junior starter Emily Oestreich went 3.0 frames, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and struck out one in the outing.
The Illini totaled eight hits with Sherlund and Loya each turning in two hits, an RBI and a run in the setback.
Game 2: Illinois 5, Cal Poly 3
The Illini broke things open with a three-run third inning as three-straight singles was capped by an RBI hit for Loya to plate senior Sam Acosta. Back-to-back RBI doubles pushed the edge to 4-0 as junior Alexis Carrillo brought in a pair and redshirt-sophomore Veronica Ruelius scored Carrillo for the fourth run in the frame.
Sherlund then added her second home run of the season in the fourth for the 5-0 advantage.
Cal Poly rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, but junior Taylor Edwards entered in the frame and secured her third save of the season by holding the Mustangs to just one hit over the next 2.2 innings as the Illini went on for the 5-3 win.
Mouzon collected her second career win after giving up just three runs – only two earned – on six hits in 4.1 innings.
The Illini registered nine hits and an error in the win, with Sherlund and Acosta each notching a pair of hits, while Carrillo added two RBI.
What's Next
Illinois returns to the friendly confines of Eichelberger Field for its home opener on Tuesday (March 20) with a midweek doubleheader against UIC beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
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.
