CARBONDALE, Ill. – The bats came alive at Charlotte West Stadium for the Illinois softball team as the Illini combined for 24 runs en route to sweeping their competition on the first day of action at the Coach B Classic on Friday (March 2). UI opened the day with a 10-2 win over Northern Illinois, before defeating host Southern Illinois, 14-1 in six innings in the day's second game.
The Illini (5-6) combined for six doubles and three home runs on the day, while the 18 hits against SIU tied for the fourth-most in program history.
Redshirt-junior Carly Thomas paced the Illini offense on the day, going 5-for-8 for a .625 batting average with six RBI, four doubles, four runs and a 1.125 slugging percentage. She totaled four hits in the win over the Salukis (7-6) to tie for the second-most hits in a game in program history.
Junior Kiana Sherlund notched a .714 hitting percentage to go along with five hits, four runs, three RBI and a double in the two wins, while classmate Stephanie Abello also added five hits, three RBI, a double and a win.
Junior Emily Oestreich had another strong performance on the day, as she did not allow a hit or a run, walked just three batters and stuck out 10 in 6.2 innings of action.
Quotable
"Today was a good day in terms of quality at bats strung together, solid defense and effective pitching. We have been talking a lot about playing with confidence and trusting our training. It was nice to see the team firing on all cylinders." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
Illinois 10, Northern Illinois 2
The Illini jumped out quickly by scoring runs in the fist three of four frames, starting with an RBI single from Abello in the opening inning. UI then put up a six-spot in the third inning, including a two-run double from Thomas, an Abello RBI single and a three-run bomb from freshman Bella Loya, the first career home run for the Mission Viejo, Calif., native.
Illinois added a pair in the fourth on an RBI sac fly from senior Rowan McGuire and an Abello RBI double.
The Huskies extended the game with a two-run double in the fifth, but the Illini responded with a run in the seventh as senior Kate Giddens earned a bases-loaded walk. Oestreich then finished off the 10-2 win with back-to-back strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior Danielle Brochu (1-0) earned her first win of the season after throwing 2.1 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Oestreich started and finished the game, while not giving up a hit and registering seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings of action. Senior Erin also saw an inning of relief and allowed two hits.
The Illini outhit NIU, 11 to four, while both teams committed one error. Abello paced UI at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance plus three RBI and a double. Sherlund added two hits and two runs, with Thomas going 1-for-3 with three runs and two RBI.
Illinois 14, Southern Illinois 1
It was déjà vu against the Salukis when freshman Maddison Demers became the second Illini freshman to knock a three-run home run for her first career long ball on the day as she connected on a ball to deep left field for the 3-0 UI lead in the second.
The Illini added to their lead in the fourth as an RBI single from Sherlund, followed by a Thomas three-run, bases-clearing double made it 7-0.
Illinois then doubled its edge by plating seven runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run homer from senior Maddi Doane – the sixth of her career and first in an Orange and Blue jersey – as well as a two-run single from senior Leigh Farina, followed by a Sherlund two-run double.
Junior Taylor Edwards (2-4) pitched 3.0 innings of relief to earn the win after allowing just one run on four hits and striking out one. Oestreich started the game and did not allow a hit while striking out three in 3.0 innings in the circle.
What's Next
The Illini continues play at the Coach B Classic on Saturday (March 3), taking on Murray State at 10 a.m. CT, before playoff action begins with a semi-final game at either 2 p.m. (seed 1 vs. seed 4) or 4 p.m (seed 2 vs. seed 3).
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.
