RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomore Danielle Davis knocked her second career grand slam in the fifth inning to lift the Illinois softball team to a 7-3 victory over NC State in the final game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Sunday (Feb. 16) at Dail Softball Stadium.
"I am proud of the way the team showed up today," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We have been talking about executing our plan, especially in pressure situations and today we did that. Addy Jarvis and Sydney Sickels did a great job in the circle and Danielle Davis had another clutch grand slam to seal the win"
After back-to-back Wolfpack singles put a run on the board in the opening inning, freshman Delaney Rummell answered right back with a two-run home run – her third of the weekend – to push the Illini ahead, 2-1.
NCSU knotted the score at 2-2 with an RBI single in the top of the third, but the Illini came right back again as singles from junior Shelby Stauffenberg and Davis set up and scored the go-ahead run from freshman pinch runner Gabi Robles.
Davis wasn't done as the sophomore knocked her second career grand slam – also her second career homer – with the bases loaded in the fifth frame to extend the Illini advantage to 7-2. NCSU added a late run in the seventh but it would not be enough as the Illini went on for the 7-3 win.
Sophomore Addy Jarvis (2-1) had a strong performance in the circle, throwing five innings and giving up just two earned runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out a season-high five batters in the outing. Classmate Sydney Sickels added her third save of the season with two innings of work, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks and striking out three.
Both teams totaled eight hits with Davis going 2-for-4 with five RBI and Rummell adding two runs, two RBI, a hit and three walks.
Next Up
The Illini next head south for the Baylor Invitational on Feb. 21-23 in Waco, Texas, with UI taking on host Baylor twice as well as Texas state and Tulsa.
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