ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Illinois softball team dropped both games in a neutral-site doubleheader with Missouri, falling 2-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two, on a sunny Tuesday (April 9) afternoon at the Lou Brock Sports Complex on the campus of Lindenwood University.
"Our pitchers Sydney Sickels and Taylor Edwards did an outstanding job today, but our bats were inconsistent," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We strayed away from executing in key situations. We are going to continue to work in practice so that our games can be better."
Game One: Missouri 2, Illinois 0
The Illini (24-13) threatened in the top of the third as three-straight singles from sophomore Katie Wingerter, freshman Avrey Steiner and senior Kiana Sherlund loaded the bases, but could not capitalize.
The Tigers (23-16) then scratched across runs on RBI hits in the bottom of the third and fifth frames as the Illini offense was held off the board.
Freshman Sydney Sickels (16-7) took the loss after giving up just one earned run on six hits and two walks and striking out one in four innings, while senior Taylor Edwards entered in the fifth and also allowed just one earned run on two hits and a walk and struck out three in two innings of relief work.
The Illini totaled six hits, with Steiner going a 2-for-2 at the plate.
Game Two: Missouri 3, Illinois 2
An RBI single to centerfield from sophomore Bella Loya in the bottom of the opening inning started off the scoring in game two. The Tigers then answered back with a pair of unearned runs in the third to take a 2-1 edge.
The Illini knotted things up in the bottom of the third as an RBI groundout from senior Veronica Ruelius brought in redshirt-senior Annie Fleming for the 2-2 tie. The score remained tied until the top of the seventh when the Tigers scored the eventual game-winning run on an RBI sacrifice fly that was unearned due to an earlier Illini fielding error.
Edwards started and went 6.1 innings, giving up all three unearned runs on eight hits, before Sickels entered in the seventh and allowed the game-winning run to score. Sickels gave up one hit in 0.2 innings.
The Illini registered eight hits, but committed two errors in the setback. Fleming and Steiner paced the team at the plate with two hits each.
Next Up
The Illini head back on the road to Iowa City, Iowa, for a three-game Big Ten Conference series on April 12-14 at Bob Pearl Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, 1 p.m., on Saturday and 12 p.m., on Sunday.
For more Fighting Illini softball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow @IlliniSB on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook.
