UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Illinois softball team extended its win streak to eight games as the Illini finished off their Friday night game on Saturday (April 28) with an 10-4 win, before sweeping the day with an 11-4 victory in the day's regularly scheduled contest at Beard Field.
With the win, the Illini improved to 33-15 on the season and 11-6 in the Big Ten Conference, with their eight-game win streak tying for the seventh-longest win streak in program history.
Junior Kiana Sherlund paced the Illini offensively with a .556 batting average on a 5-of-9 effort at the plate, as well as team-highs of six RBI and five runs.
Quotable
"I thought we showed a ton of poise today in both games. The weather caused a few delays but we were able to stay focused and play good softball. Stephanie Abello came through with a big hit for us in game one to put us on top. Kiana Sherlund swung a hot bat in the second game. Her grand slam gave us the momentum we needed to win." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
Game One: Illinois 10, Penn State 4
Friday night's series opener went just an inning and half before being suspended an hour and ultimately postponed until Saturday due to weather, with the Nittany Lions holding a 3-0 lead after a first-inning three-run home run.
With the game restarting in the bottom of the second inning, the Illini battled back with runs in the third and fourth frames on RBI singles from junior Stephanie Abello and Sherlund to close within 3-2.
After PSU pushed across an unearned run in the third, the Illinois offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by back-to-back two-run hits from Abello and freshman Bella Loya.
Abello then added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single up the middle as senior Erin Walker closed out the 10-4 win.
Junior Taylor Edwards (14-7) started and went 5.0 innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on four hits and three walks and striking out three to earn in the win. Walker finished the final two frames for the Illini, allowing just one hit and one walk and striking out one in the outing.
The Illini totaled 15 hits in the win, with Abello going 3-for-5 with four RBI and Sherlund adding three hits, two runs and an RBI. Loya also notched two hits and two RBI, while redshirt-junior Carly Thomas and senior Leigh Farina each posted two hits and a run.
Game Two: Illinois 11, Penn State 4
After a leadoff home run to centerfield from Sherlund opened the originally scheduled Saturday contest, as the Illini built a 5-0 advantage with four runs in the second on an RBI hit-by-pitch, followed by three-straight bases loaded walks.
A two-run double from the Nittany Lions in the bottom half of the inning closed the gap to 5-2, but Sherlund responded with her fourth grand slam and sixth home run of the season in the top of the fifth.
PSU answered back with its own two-run homer, but a pair of unearned scores in the top of the sixth sealed the 11-4 win for the Illini.
Junior Emily Oestreich (14-7) earned the win after giving up just two unearned runs on three hits and two walks and striking out one in 5.2 innings of relief work. Sophomore Akilah Mouzon started the game and went 1.1 frames, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks.
The Illini registered 10 hits and an error in the victory, with Sherlund tying her career-high with five RBI to go along with a pair of homers and three runs. Junior Alexis Carrillo added two hits and two runs, while Farina and senior Maddi Doane each notched two runs and a hit.
What's Next
The Illini will look to sweep the series with Penn State in the Sunday (April 29) finale at 11 a.m. CT.s
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.
