FULLERTON, Calif. – After coming back to tie Cal State Fullerton in the seventh and force extras, the Illinois softball team suffered a 4-3 heartbreaker to the Titans in eight innings on Saturday (Feb. 29) night at Anderson Family Field.
CSF (12-5) struck first with solo home runs in the second and third innings, but the Illini (8-9) answered back in the fourth as the visitors loaded the bases on a Titan error and back-to-back singles from sophomores Danielle Davis and Kailee Powell. Junior Shelby Stauffenberg then delivered a two-run single up the middle to tie things up at 2-2.
The game stayed tied until the bottom of the sixth when CSF put runners at second and third, before the home team scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Down to their last out in the top of the seventh, the Illini took advantage of a Titan error as sophomore Avrey Steiner scored from second base on a fielding miscue by the shortstop.
As the game entered extras and with the international tie breaker ruler in effect, the Titans brought home the game-winning run on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the eighth to take the game, 4-3.
Sophomore Addy Jarvis (4-4) had another strong performance in the circle despite taking the loss after allowing just two unearned runs on two hits and a walk and striking out five in 5.1 innings of work. Classmate Sydney Sickels started the game and gave up two runs on three hits and struck out one in 2.0 frames.
Both teams totaled five hits, with the Illini committing one error to the Titans' four.
Next Up
The Illini will next travel to Louisville, Ky., for the Red and Black Challenge, hosted by the University of Louisville on March 6-8. The Illini will face the host Cardinals twice as well as Oakland and Evansville in the three-day tournament.
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