MADISON, Wis. – Behind a three-run sixth inning, the sixth-seeded Illinois softball team earned a 5-3 come-from-behind win over No. 11 Maryland in the first round of the Big Ten Softball Tournament on Thursday (May 10) at the Goodman Softball Complex.
The Illini, who improve to 37-17 with their 12th win in the last 14 contests, advance to face off against No. 3 seed Indiana in Friday's quarterfinal round at 1:30 p.m. CT. Illinois and the Hoosiers did not meet in the 2018 regular season.
Junior Emily Oestreich (16-9) earned the win after throwing 3.2 shutout innings of relief while not allowing a hit and only two walks and striking out a pair in the outing.
Quotable
"We started off shaky, but finished strong. Nerves were a factor early, but they did not get the best of us. Emily Oestreich came in and did a good job challenging batters and Sam Acosta had a great overall game and was a catalyst throughout the entire game." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
An RBI fielder's choice from freshman Bella Loya in the opening frame got the scoring going, but the Terps (18-37) answered back with three-straight unearned runs on RBI hits in the third and fourth frames for the 3-1 deficit.
The Illini closed within one as senior Sam Acosta singled in classmate Leigh Farina in the fifth, before a three-run rally pushed the home team ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk to junior Stephanie Abello led off the inning, Loya knocked her first career triple to right field to knot the score at 3-3. A passed ball the scored freshman pinch runner Rhein Trochim, before an RBI fielder's choice from Farina gave the Illini some breathing room at 5-3.
It would be all Oestreich needed as the Napa, Calif., native turned in a three-up, three-down seventh to secure the 5-3 victory.
Junior Taylor Edwards started the game and gave up three unearned runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out one in 3.1 innings of work.
The Illini totaled five hits, but were hampered by three errors on the day. Loya posted two RBI and a hit in the win, while Acosta and Farina each added a hit, a run and an RBI.
What's Next
With the win, the Illini advance to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to face No. 3 seed Indiana on Friday (May 11) at 1:30 p.m. CT at the Goodman Softball Complex. The game can be seen on Big Ten Network and fans can listen to the call on WDWS 1400.
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.
