URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois softball team dropped its regular season finale to Nebraska, 6-3, on a sunny Sunday (May 6) afternoon at Eichelberger Field.
The Illini finish the 2018 regular season with a 36-17 overall record and are currently tied for fifth place with Ohio State with a 13-8 conference mark.
The Buckeyes are set to face off against conference champion Michigan in the final league game of the season at 5 p.m. CT. The Illini would secure the fifth seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament with an OSU loss, while a Buckeye win would make UI the sixth seed.
The Illini wrapped one of its best home seasons in program history with a 15-2 record at Eichelberger Field in 2018, including posting the second-highest win percentage and most victories in program history.
Quotable
"It was a tough day for us. We had chances, but could not capitalize on them. Carly Thomas's home run in the first inning gave us energy and Emily Oestreich pitched well, but we could not finish. Now we look ahead to next week's Big Ten Tournament and to competing during our championship season." – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
Redshirt-junior Carly Thomas started off the scoring in the opening frame with a two-run home run to left field – tying for the team lead with her ninth homer of the season.
The Huskers (31-22, 9-13 B1G) answered back with a four-run third inning on a sacrifice fly and a three-run long ball to centerfield.
A solo shot to right centerfield from junior Stephanie Abello in the bottom of the third closed the gap to 4-3, but Nebraska added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as the Illini could not rally in the bottom half of the frame.
The Illini totaled eight hits, but suffered two errors and stranded eight runners on base. Abello went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run on the day, while senior Sam Acosta added two hits and a run.
Junior Emily Oestreich (15-9) took the loss after giving up six runs – with only two earned – on seven hits and two walks, while striking out one in 6.1 innings of work. Classmate Taylor Edwards entered in the seventh and allowed just one hits in 0.2 frames of action.
What's Next
The Illini next head to Madison, Wis., for the 2018 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Wisconsin on May 10-12 at Goodman Diamond. Seeding and game times for the tournament are to be determined.
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.
