URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois softball team opened Big Ten Conference play on Friday (March 22), falling to No. 23 Wisconsin, 15-6, at Eichelberger Field.
The Illini move to 18-7 on the season and 0-1 in league action.
The Badgers (22-3, 1-0 B1G) jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage on a pair of singles and an Illini error in the opening frame, but UI answered back as sophomore Bella Loya drove in a run on a groundout to second base.
UW then built a 6-1 lead with a two-run home run in the second and a leadoff long ball in the fifth, before an error and a bases-loaded walk from senior Stephanie Abello in the bottom half of the inning closed the deficit to 6-3.
A six-run sixth frame from the visitors pushed the edge to 12-3, but again the Illini responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning – highlighted by an RBI single from senior Annie Fleming. The Badgers then closed out the game with three runs in the seventh to go on for the 15-6 win.
Freshman Sydney Sickels (11-3) notched a career-high seven strikeouts, but allowed 11 runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings to take the loss. Junior Akilah Mouzon (4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 K) finished off the final 1.1 frames.
The Illini totaled nine hits in the game, but committed three errors and stranded 10 runners on base. Individually, redshirt-senior Carly Thomas and senior Kiana Sherlund each turned in two hits and two runs.
Next Up
The Illini continues its three-game series with No. 23 Wisconsin on Saturday (March 23) with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch at Eichelberger Field.
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