IOWA CITY, Iowa – Illinois split Saturday's doubleheader with Iowa, falling in game one, 7-2, but taking game two, 9-1. The Fighting Illini offense exploded for nine runs in game two, led by Kailee Powell, who notched her team-high fifth home run of the season. Sydney Sickels impressed in game two, throwing another complete game while picking up her 14th win of the season.

GAME ONE (Iowa 7, Illinois 2)

Illinois took an early 1-0 lead in game one, scoring runs in the first and second innings. The Illini scored one in the first on an RBI single by Delaney Rummell, scoring Bella Loya. In the top of the second, the Illini extended their lead as Shelby Stauffenberg roped a double down the left field line, scoring Kelly Ryono, who reached on a leadoff single.

Iowa got a run back in the bottom of the third to close the gap, followed by a two-run inning in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. The Hawkeyes added one more run in the fifth inning on an RBI single to add to their lead.

Tori McQueen entered to pitch for Addy Jarvis in the sixth inning. Jarvis threw 5.0 innings, striking out three and allowing four runs. The Hawkeyes added another three runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-2 lead on a two-out, bases clearing triple. Iowa would hang on to take game one, 7-2.

GAME TWO (Illinois 9, Iowa 1)

The nightcap was a low-scoring pitcher's duel, as neither team recorded a hit through the first three innings. Avrey Steiner put the first hit of the game on the board in the top of the fourth inning, a double to left center to set up a runner in scoring position with no outs for the Illini. Kailee Powell followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Steiner to third, and the Orange and Blue were able to break the scoreless tie as Vickery doubled off the right field wall to score Steiner, followed by a two-RBI double by Kelly Ryono to give Illinois a 3-0 lead.

The Illini scored two more in the fifth as Gabi Robles singled with one out, followed by a two-run home run by Kailee Powell, her team-leading fifth of the season, to push Illinois in front, 5-0. Iowa would answer with a run in the fifth, but the Illini scored four more in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead on a pair of hits and errors by the Hawkeyes.

Sydney Sickels pitched another complete game for the Illini, throwing 7.0 innings and allowing just one run while striking out 8. 

UP NEXT

Illinois and Iowa play the series finale Sunday, May 16 at 3 pm CT on Big Ten Network.