EVANSTON, Ill. – Illinois split Saturday's doubleheader with Northwestern, losing game one 7-6 and winning game two, 4-3. Kailee Powell hit a huge go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning of game two to propel the Illini to a win.
"We grew a lot today as a team," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We lost the first game in a heartbreaker. I thought Sydney was tough on the mound and was a few pitches away from a different result. We learned a ton about our desire and determination in game two. Most teams would have a hard time refocusing but I am proud of our ability to stay in the moment and fight for the win."
GAME ONE (Northwestern 7, Illinois 6)
The Illini bats stayed hot, scoring three runs on four hits in the first two innings. Steiner led off the game with a single up the middle, followed by a sacrifice bunt and stolen base to get her to third base. Delaney Rummell picked up her 24th RBI of the season on a two-out single to left field, scoring Steiner and putting Illinois in front, 1-0.
The Orange and Blue added two more runs in the top of the second on an error by the Wildcats and an RBI single by Kailee Powell, scoring Kelly Ryono who reached on an infield single ealier in the inning. The two runs put the Illini ahead 3-0 after the first two frames. The Illini would add another run in the third on a two-out single by Shelby Stauffenberg as Illinois scored in each of the first three innings.
Northwestern got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with three runs to cut into the Illinois lead after a pair of triples in the inning, making it a 4-3 ballgame heading into the fourth. Katie Wingerter hit a solo shot to right field in the top of the fifth extending the Illini lead to 5-3, before Gabi Robles reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Kelly Ryono to give Illinois a 6-3 lead.
The Wildcats plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run and an RBI double to cut into the Illinois lead, making it a 6-5 game. Sydney Sickels went out to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh with a one-run lead, but Northwestern came through with a two-out, two-run walk off home run to win game one.
Sickels pitched 6.2 innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs while striking out five. Sickels is now 12-3 on the season.
GAME TWO (Illinois 4, Northwestern 3)
For the third straight game, the Illini scored in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Delaney Rummell and Katie Wingerter both notched two-out RBIs to put the Illini on top heading into the home half of the first inning. Northwestern responded in the home half of the inning with a solo home run, cutting into the Illinois lead to take the score 2-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Wildcats took the lead with a two-run home run to right center field to jump in front, 3-2, which would end up holding for the remainder of the game.
Kailee Powell came through with her biggest home run of the season, a two-run shot with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to put the Orange and Blue in front, 4-3.
Addy Jarvis pitched 6.2 innings for the Illini, giving up three runs and striking out three. Sydney Sickels entered in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to record the final out of the game, which was a full count, bases loaded strikeout to secure the win.
UP NEXT
Illinois and Northwestern square off in Evanston for the final game of this weekend's four-game series. First pitch will be at 1:30 pm CT and the game will be broadcasted by BTN.
