LINCOLN, Neb. – Illinois fell in the series finale at Nebraska on Sunday afternoon, 8-6. Kailee Powell powered the Illini offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Sydney Sickels got the start in the circle for the Illini, while Addy Jarvis entered in relief. The Illini are now 15-9 on the season following the loss on Sunday afternoon.
In a tough inning defensively, Nebraska scored four runs on four Illini errors in the bottom of the third. Addy Jarvis entered to pitch for Sydney Sickels with one out in the third inning as the Huskers took a 1-0 lead on a single up the middle, but the Huskers would score three more after four errors in the inning allowed Nebraska to take a 4-0 lead.
The Illini began to make a comeback in the top of the fifth inning, as Delaney Rummell doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Katie Wingerter came through with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring pinch runner Miranda Gallardo to put the Illini on the board. The next at bat, Kelly Ryono crushed a double to left, scoring Rummell and cutting the deficit in half, 4-2.
Illinois would add four more runs in the fifth, ultimately taking a 5-4 lead following an RBI single by Gabi Robles and a two-out, bases-clearing double by Kailee Powell to score two more. A Husker error with two outs would allow the Illini to plate one more for a six-run inning and a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Nebraska took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs in the inning including a three-run home run to take an 8-6 lead. Despite putting the tying run on first with two outs in the top half of the seventh inning, the Illini ended up losing the final game of the series, 8-6.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns to Eichelberger Field next weekend for a four-game series against Purdue. The first game of the series will begin at 5 pm CT on BTN+.
