LINCOLN, Neb. – Despite scoring a combined 10 runs on 18 hits, the Illini dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Nebraska, 5-4 in game one and 10-6 in game two. Illinois second baseman Avrey Steiner led the way for the Illini offensively, going a combined 5-for-9 in two games, while third baseman Delaney Rummell went 4-for-8 with a home run and 3 RBI. Addy Jarvis started game one for the Illini, while Sydney Sickels took the circle for game two.
GAME ONE (Nebraska 5, Illinois 4)
Nebraska scored first in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Huskers added three more runs in the second inning to take a four-run lead over the Illini heading into the third.
Gabi Robles picked up the first hit of the game for Illinois in the top of the third. Avrey Steiner singled in her second at bat of the game to extend her hit-streak to 14 consecutive games. The Illini ended up loading the bases with two outs in the inning, but were unable to push any runs across.
Shelby Stauffenberg came through with an RBI single up the middle to put the Illini on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Illinois would add one more in the inning as Kelly Ryono scored on a wild pitch to cut the Nebraska lead in half, 4-2. Delaney Rummell notched her first home run of the season in the top of the sixth, a solo shot to lead off the inning which continued to close the gap. The Illini trailed the Huskers 4-3 following the leadoff homer.
After allowing another run in the 6th, the Illini responded in the 7th and had a chance to tie the game with the bases loaded and just one out, but were unable to capitalize and ultimately fell to the Huskers, 5-4.
Addy Jarvis got the start for the Illini, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing three ER while striking out four. Sydney Sickels came in for Jarvis in relief to record the last two outs of the bottom of the sixth inning.
GAME TWO (Nebraska 10, Illinois 6)
The Illini came out swinging in game two, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first to take an early 3-0 lead. Nebraska responded in the home half of the first with two runs to cut into the Illini lead. Following the high scoring first inning, Illinois led, 3-2.
Illinois scored two more in the top of the second as Bella Loya singled to score Avrey Steiner, who reached with a leadoff single. Katie Wingerter followed with a double to left field, scoring Loya from first and giving the Orange and Blue a 5-2 lead. Nebraska responded in the bottom of the second with three runs to even the score at 5.
The Huskers added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, all coming with two outs, before the Illini scored one in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Steiner to cut the Husker lead to 9-6.
Sydney Sickels, Tori McQueen, and Kelsie Packard each pitched for the Illini in game two. Avrey Steiner went 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and a run scored.
UP NEXT
Illinois takes on Nebraska for the final game of the series tomorrow, April 11 at 11 am CT on BTN+.
