CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Illinois softball team opened the 2020 season with an 8-2 win over Liberty, before falling, 11-0 in five innings, in an exhibition against the US National Team on the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic Presented by Rawlings on Friday (Feb. 7) at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

 "You always hope to start the season off with a win and we were able to do that against Liberty," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Sidney Sickels led the way with a solid performance in the circle. We were in attack mode at the plate and stayed in that mindset throughout most of the game. The grand slam by Danielle Davis was icing on the cake."

"We came out a little tentative against the national team and our defense suffered," added Perry. "We have a young team and this experience provided a backdrop to talk about playing our game no matter who is on the other side of the diamond. Addy Jarvis came in during the final innings and did a solid job."

Illinois 8, Liberty 2
The Illini (1-0) struck first in the opening inning of the 2020 season as juniors Shelby Stauffenberg and Katie Wingerter registered RBIs for an early 2-0 lead.  Another Wingerter RBI on a sac fly followed in the third, before the Illini broke things open with five runs in the seventh – highlighted by UI's first home run of the season on a grand slam from sophomore Danielle Davis.

LU (0-1) added a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh as the Illini went on for the 8-2 victory.

Sophomore Sydney Sickels (1-0) earned the first win of the season after allowing just two hits and striking out three in six innings of work. Freshman Morgan Scivally saw her first career action as an Illini with an inning of relief in the seventh, allowing two hits and striking out one.

The Illini totaled 11 hits and one error in the season opener, with Davis pacing the squad with two hits, four RBI and a run, while Stauffenberg added to two hits and two RBI in the win.

US National Team 11, Illinois 0
In the exhibition nightcap, the talented US squad opened the scoring with four runs in the first – highlighted by a two-run homer from Bubba Nickles - before a seven-run frame in the second.

Sophomore Kailee Powell notched the Illini's lone hit of the night a single to center field in the top of the fourth. The Illini held USA scoreless in the final two innings, but the National team would go on for the 11-0 win in five innings.

Freshman Taylor Murray started the contest, with Scivally and sophomore Addy Jarvis also seeing time in the circle in relief.

Next Up
The Illini continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Presented by Rawlings on Saturday (February 8), facing off against No. 21 Ole Miss at 2 p.m. CT, before taking on South Alabama at 4:30 p.m. CT.

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