URBANA, Ill. – Illinois split Friday's doubleheader with Indiana, winning the first game 7-5, but dropping the second, 7-2. Avrey Steiner went 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate in game one, while Sydney Sickels picked up her 11th win of the season in the circle. The Illini are now 19-11 following the split with the Hoosiers on Friday.
GAME ONE (Illinois 7, Indiana 5)
The Illini scored quickly in the top of the first inning as Avrey Steiner, who reached base with her 39th hit of the season, scored on a passed ball to break the scoreless tie. Illinois added four more runs in the bottom of the second with five hits, including doubles by Shelby Stauffenberg and Bella Loya. Steiner also picked up her second hit of the game and first RBI on a two-out single, sparking a two-out rally. Illinois took a 5-0 lead into the third inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Indiana hit a two-run home run to cut into the Illini defecit, making the score 5-2 heading to the home half of the fourth. The Hoosiers scored three more runs to tie the score in the fifth inning.
Kelly Ryono notched the go-ahead RBI in the home half of the fifth, a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Illini the lead. Gabi Robles followed with a single to left field, scoring Shelby Stauffenberg to extend the Illinois lead, 7-5.
The Illini would hold on for the win as Sydney Sickels finished out the game, going 7 innings while giving up five earned and four hits and striking out 11.
GAME TWO (Indiana 7, Illinois 2)
Bella Loya opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo home run to right center field, her third round-tripper of the season to put the Orange and Blue up 1-0. The Hoosiers responded with a run in the top of the third on an RBI single to knot the score, 1-1.
Illinois added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Delaney Rummell, scoring Jaelyn Vickery and giving the Illini a 2-1 lead, but the Hoosiers would follow up with a three-run home run in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Indiana tacked on three more runs, leading the Hoosiers to a 7-2 victory.
Addy Jarvis started in the circle for the Illini, throwing 4.2 innings while giving up three earned runs on four hits. Tori McQueen, Kelsie Packard, and Morgan Scivally all pitched in relief for the Illini.
UP NEXT
Illinois is back home on Sunday, April 25 for another doubleheader with the Hoosiers. Game one will begin at 11 am CT and both games will be streamed on BTN+.
