MADISON, Wis. – Illinois softball split Saturday's doubleheader at Wisconsin, winning the first game 7-2 and dropping game two, 2-1. The Illini offense scored seven runs on a season-high 16 hits in game one against the Badgers. Following Saturday's doubleheader, the Illini are now 13-6 on the season.
"We were able to put hits together in game one to get the win," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Addy Jarvis was ultra competitive in the circle. Her hard-nosed play set the tone."
"We had our chances to come away with two games today but we did not take care of business when it really counted. Tori McQueen gave us a chance to win and we were a clutch hit or clutch play away from getting the job done. Tomorrow is a new opportunity. We will watch film and go hard for game four."
GAME ONE (Illinois 7, Wisconsin 2)
Gabi Robles got the Illini started in the top of the third inning with a single to centerfield, followed by a stolen base to get to second. Avrey Steiner followed up with a single and stolen base, then a walk from Kailee Powell would load the bases with one out for the Illini. Bella Loya came through with an RBI single up the middle scoring Robles to give the Illini a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch allowed Powell to score, and an RBI single to left field from Jaelyn Vickery extended the Illini lead to 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
The Illini added another run in the top of the fifth as Katie Wingerter notched her second hit of the afternoon, and RBI single through the right side, scoring pinch runner Miranda Gallardo and extending the Illinois lead to 4-0.
Wisconsin scored their first runs of the game in the fifth inning on a pair of hits and errors by the Illini. An RBI bunt and a single to left field plated two for the Badgers, who cut the Illinois lead in half following the home half of the fifth inning.
Illinois responded in the top of the sixth with another run, a two-out RBI single by Steiner, giving the Illini a 5-2 lead.
Illinois scored seven runs on a season-high 16 hits in game one. Delaney Rummell went 3-for-4, while Avrey Steiner, Bella Loya, Jaelyn Vickery, Kelly Ryono, and Katie Wingerter all added two-hit games for the Illini.
Addy Jarvis is now 4-1 on the season following a stellar complete game performance in the circle. The junior pitcher allowed no earned runs on five hits while striking out five and earning her second complete game of the season.
GAME TWO (Wisconsin 2, Illinois 1)
The Illini opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning as Vickery crushed an RBI double to right field, scoring Avrey Steiner who reached in the firs at bat of the game on an error. The Badgers responded with a run in the bottom of the first to knot the score at one.
Wisconsin scored another run in the bottom of the third inning on a single down the right field line, giving the Badgers a 2-1 lead.
Heading into the seventh inning down by one, Wingerter led off for the Illini with a single to left field, followed by back-to-back singles from Robles and Steiner to load the bases with just one out. The Orange and Blue were unable to push any runs across and dropped game two with the Badgers, 2-1.
Tori McQueen pitched a great game for the Illini, throwing six complete innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. McQueen is now 2-2 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Illini finish out the four-game series against the Badgers tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm CT on BTN.
