UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Illinois softball team did not capitalize on its chances as the Illini stranded 15 runners on base en route to dropping a 4-3 setback to Penn State on a walk-off home run in the ninth inning on a cold Saturday (April 29) afternoon at Beard Field.
The Illini, who fall to 33-16 and 11-7 in the Big Ten Conference, had their season-long eight-game win streak snapped with the defeat.
Senior Leigh Farina led the Illini with a .444 batting average on the weekend, while junior Kiana Sherlund turned in team highs of five hits – including a double and two home runs – six runs and six RBI. Junior Stephanie Abello also contributed five hits, two doubles and five RBI.
Quotable
"We started the game flat and never really generated the energy we needed to gain control of the game. We left 15 runners on base and made four errors and lost by one in nine innings. In situations like the one today we needed someone to step up." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
With both team scoring a trio of runs in the first three innings, the game entered a 3-3 tie in the fifth frame and stayed tied until Tori Dubois sent the home team to victory with a leadoff solo home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Illini scored on a wild pitch in the second and a pair of passed balls in the fourth, while the Nittany Lions notched single runs in the second, third and fourth innings.
Junior Emily Oestreich (14-8) took the loss after allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out three in 4.0 innings of relief action. Classmate Taylor Edwards started the game and also went 4.0 frames, giving up three runs - only one earned - on five hits and two walks, while registering three strikeouts.
The Illini totaled four hits, but suffered four errors, while the Nittany Lions also committed two miscues on the day. Farina led the Illini with a hit and a run, while Abello, senior Maddi Doane and freshman Bella Loya also totaled hits.
What's Next
The Illini will finish off the regular season with four-straight games at Eichelberger Field, first hosting IUPUI on Tuesday (May 1) at 5 p.m. CT, before welcoming in Nebraska for a three-game conference series next weekend (May 4-6). The popular World's Largest Softball Tailgate promotion is set for Saturday (May 5) beginning at 11 a.m., with Senior Day festivities following the conclusion of the game.
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.
