COLUMBUS, Ohio. – The Illinois softball team dropped a 9-2 decision to Ohio State on Saturday (April 27) at Buckeye Field.
"We are going through a tough stretch right now," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We are playing the top teams in our conference and coming up short. Adversity is difficult but we have to stay focused and find a way to compete for seven innings tomorrow."
OSU scored runs in the second and third inning to build a 5-0 advantage, before senior Stephanie Abello put the Illini on the board with a solo home run to left center field in the top of the fourth.
Abello then added her second RBI of the day on a ground out to bring in freshman pinch runner Zaria Dunlap to pull UI within 5-2 in the top of the sixth, but the Buckeyes answered back with a grand slam in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 9-2 setback.
The Illini totaled seven hits, with senior Kiana Sherlund going 2-for-3 at the plate and Abello adding two RBI, a hit and a run.
Senior Taylor Edwards (3-7) went five innings and struck out two in the loss.
Next Up
The Illini wrap up their final road conference series of the season against Ohio State with the series finale on Sunday (April 28) at 12 p.m. CT in Buckeye Field.
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