URBANA, Ill. – Behind a strong outing in the circle from senior Taylor Edwards, the Illinois softball team bounced back to even its Big Ten Conference series with No. 23 Wisconsin in a 2-0 shutout win on Saturday (March 23) at Eichelberger Field.
The Illini (19-7, 1-1 B1G) earned its first shutout of the season behind a four-hit, one-walk outing from Edwards (2-2), who also tallied two strikeouts in her 6.1 innings of work. Freshman Sydney Sickels registered her third save of the season after entering in the top of the seventh and securing the final two outs of the game – capped by a swinging strikeout for the final out.
After an opening-inning leadoff double from redshirt-senior Carly Thomas and a sac bunt from senior Kiana Sherlund, Thomas came home on a wild pitch for the early 1-0 lead. The Illini then added a Sherlund bases-loaded walk for the 2-0 advantage in the fourth that would hold for the remainder of the day.
The Illini totaled seven hits in the contest, but suffered two errors. Freshman Kailee Powell paced the team with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with a run.
Next Up
The Illini wraps up their three-game series with No. 23 Wisconsin on Sunday (March 24) with a 12 p.m. CT first pitch at Eichelberger Field.
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