PEORIA, Ill. – Freshman Maddison Demers and senior Rowan McGuire each knocked their second home runs of the season as the Illinois softball team earned a 4-3 victory over Bradley in midweek nonconference action inside the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex Dome on Wednesday (March 7) evening.
Quotable
"We played team softball again today that was highlighted by magnificent plays on defense by Leigh Farina, Alexis Carrillo and Maddison Demers. Taylor Edwards is continually showing growth and control in the circle, which is very exciting. We scored first and continued having solid at-bats throughout the entire game. I am proud of the poise we showed at the plate." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
The Illini (9-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with back-to-back leadoff home runs in the third and fourth frames as Demers got things started with her second homer of the season off the first pitch of the inning, before McGuire added her second dinger an inning later.
Bradley (7-9) closed within 2-1 with a solo homer in the fifth, but a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a RBI grounder from senior Leigh Farina and an RBI single from junior Kiana Sherlund put the Illini ahead 4-1.
Those runs proved key as the Braves scored a pair of runs on a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh, before junior pitcher Emily Oestreich finished off win with a swinging strikeout.
Junior Taylor Edwards (3-4) secured the win after allowing just two earned runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out four in 6.0 innings of work. Oestreich notched her first save of the season by holding the Braves to two hits and striking out a pair in a scoreless seventh frame.
The Illini totaled seven hits in the game, with Sherlund going 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the offense.
What's Next
The Illini next head south to Starkville, Miss., for a three-team tournament at Mississippi State on March 9-11 in Nusz Park. Along with the host Bulldogs, the Illini will take on UMass-Lowell, with each team playing the two other opponents twice on the weekend.
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
