LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Illinois softball team got another outstanding performance in the circle as sophomore Sydney Sickels equaled the program record with 13 strikeouts en route to leading the Illini to a 3-1 win over Oakland on Saturday (March 7) morning in the Red & Black Challenge at Ulmer Stadium.
Sickels previously tied the single game record of 13 strikeouts earlier this season against NC State on February 15, with former Illini Amanda Fortune setting the mark against Virginia Tech on March 18, 2001.
"We are excited about the way Sydney Sickels was able to keep the Oakland hitters off balance today," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Maddison Demers was the spark for our offense. Her focused at-bats showed a ton of character and toughness."
Along with her 13 strikeouts, Sickels (4-5) held the Golden Grizzlies (7-9) to just one earned run on three hits in the complete game victory.
Junior Maddison Demers led the Illini (10-9) at the plate with a 2-for-2 effort, while freshman Kelly Ryono also notched two hits and junior Rhein Trochim added one run, one hit and one RBI as UI totaled eight hits in the contest.
In a tightly contested game, the Illini broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning as hits from Demers and Ryono along with a walk issued to sophomore pinch hitter Kailee Powell loaded the bases, before freshman Delaney Rummell brought in a pair of runs on an Oakland fielding error by the rightfielder.
Trochim then added an insurance run on an RBI infield single in the sixth as the Grizzlies added a solo home run in the seventh but that would be it as back-to-back Sickels strikeouts sealed the 3-1 win.
Next Up
The Illini next wrap up play at the Red & Black Challenge with back-to-back games on Sunday (March 8), first facing host Louisville at 11:15 a.m. CT, before taking on Evansville at 1:30 p.m. CT.
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