URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini softball team defeated Minnesota 8-0 on Sunday afternoon in the series finale of the four-game series at Eichelberger Field. The Illini bats exploded for eight runs in five innings, paired with an excellent outing in the circle for junior pitcher Sydney Sickels, shutting out the Gophers in five scoreless frames. The Illini are now 11-5 on the season following the win over Minnesota to cap off the weekend.
Illinois scored first, as Katie Wingerter reached base after getting hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Kelly Ryono put the Illini in front with an RBI double off the center field wall, scoring Miranda Gallardo who entered as a pinch runner for Wingerter.
The Illini offense broke out in a major way in the third inning, scoring six runs on four hits. Jaelyn Vickery, Gabi Robles, Avrey Steiner, and Kailee Powell all notched hits in the inning for the Orange and Blue, extending the lead to 7-0.
Vickery picked up her second double of the afternoon in the home half of the fourth inning, a line drive down the right field line to lead off the inning. Kelly Ryono, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, singled through the right side to score Vickery and put the Illini up eight heading into the fifth inning.
Ryono, Powell, Vickery, and Robles all had two-hit games for the Illini while accounting for four of the five Illini runs batted in on the afternoon.
Sydney Sickels was dominant in the circle once again, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out eight. Sickels is now 6-2 on the season following her impressive performance on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Illinois travels to Madison, Wis. to take on the Badgers in a four-game series next weekend. The first game of the series will begin at 3 pm CT on Friday, April 2.
