COLUMBUS, Ohio. – Despite holding a lead into the sixth inning, the Illinois softball team fell in a 5-4 heartbreaker in its Big Ten Conference series finale to Ohio State on Sunday (April 28) at Buckeye Field.
"We played quality softball today but fell short in the end," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We have to keep working to improve our overall game. I believe in this team and we will continue to fight."
The Illini (27-22, 6-14 B1G) jumped out to an early 4-0 edge through the first two innings as freshman Kailee Powell delivered a two-out, two-RBI double with the bases loaded in the opening frame, before senior Kiana Sherlund added a two-run home run to left field in the second.
The Buckeyes (32-14, 15-5 B1G) scored in the third and fourth frames to cut the UI lead to one at 4-3, before a two-run OSU home run gave the home team the 5-4 advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Illini out-hit the Buckeyes on the day, eight to six, and was paced at the plate by a two-double day from redshirt-senior Annie Fleming, while Sherlund and Powell added two RBI and a hit each.
Freshman Sydney Sickels (17-13) registered five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of action.
Next Up
The Illini next return to Eichelberger Field for their final four regular season games of the season, starting with a 6 p.m. CT contest on Tuesday (April 30) against DePaul on FS1, before hosting Purdue in their last conference series on May 3-5.
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