URBANA, Ill. – The Fighting Illini took both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Purdue behind excellent pitching performances from Addy Jarvis in game one and Tori McQueen in game 2. Illinois also broke out the bats in both games, scoring nine runs on 13 hits to take games two and three of the four-game series. The Illini improve to 18-9 on the season prior to tomorrow's series finale with the Boilermakers.
GAME ONE
The first three innings of game one remained scoreless until the home half of the fourth, when Jaelyn Vickery crushed her first career home run to right field, a solo shot that put the Illini up 1-0 over the Boilermakers.
Illinois added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Delaney Rummell hit a three-run shot for her second home run of the season, and she now leads the team in RBI's with 19. Kailee Powell and Vickery both scored on the homer, putting the Illini ahead, 4-1 going into the final frame.
Addy Jarvis pitched a stellar game for the Illini, throwing 6.1 innings allowing just one earned run and six hits while striking out four. Jarvis improves to 5-3 after earning the win, and Sydney Sickels, who came in to record the final two outs, earns her second save of the season.
GAME TWO
Kelly Ryono led off the third inning with a walk, followed by a double to the left center gap by Gabi Robles to put runners on second and third with no outs. Vickery was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and back-to-back singles by Bella Loya and Delaney Rummell plated three runs for the Orange and Blue.
The Illini would score runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-0 lead as Delaney Rummell notched her third hit of the game and second three-hit game of the series. The Illini would hang on to a 5-0 lead for the remainder of the game to secure the doubleheader sweep and earn the third win of the four-game series with Purdue.
Tori McQueen was impressive in the circle as she pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while walking none. The freshman moves to 3-3 on the season following her dominant performance in game two of the doubleheader.
UP NEXT
Illinois will take on Purdue tomorrow, April 18 for the final game of this weekend's four-game series. First pitch will be at noon CT and the game will be live streamed on BTN+.
