IOWA CITY, Iowa – Illinois dropped the final Big Ten game of the season on Sunday at Iowa, 4-3. Sydney Sickels got the start for the Illini, and the Delaney Rummell led the way at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Illini offense got off to another fast start, scoring in the first inning once again to take a 1-0 lead. Avrey Steiner led off with a leadoff single, and a sac bunt followed by an error on the Iowa catcher allowed Steiner to come around and score to give the Illini an early one-run lead. The Hawkeyes responded in the home half with a two-out, two-RBI single to take a 2-1 lead.
Illinois got two runs back in the top of the third, taking the lead back. Kailee Powell notched an RBI single, scoring Gabi Robles, who reached on a leadoff single. Delaney Rummell followed up with an RBI single which scored Powell and gave the Orange and Blue a one-run lead heading into the home half of the third.
Iowa took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run to put the Hawkeyes ahead, 4-3. Addy Jarvis came in to pitch with two outs in the fourth inning, replacing Sydney Sickels, who went 3.2 innings, giving up four runs and striking out two. Illinois worked the bases loaded in the top of the fifth with a chance to retake the lead, but were unable to push any runs across.
Jarvis threw 2.1 innings, giving up no runs and no hits, but the Illini were unable to tie the game up late and ultimately ended up falling to the Hawkeyes in the series finale, 4-3.
