FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. – On day two of the Razorback Invitational, the Fighting Illini softball team split a pair of games defeating Western Illinois 7-0 while falling to Longwood 3-5.
The highlight of the day came courtesy of senior RHP Sydney Sickels, who tossed the 15th no-hitter in Illinois history, and the second of her career, vs. Western Illinois. Sickels struck out 16 Leatherneck batters, which is the most strikeouts in a single game in Illinois history, breaking her previous school record of 13 that she set twice before.
Sickels also pitched a complete game in the second game of the day, striking out 11 batters. In total, Sickels pitched 14 innings Saturday evening, striking out 27 batters while allowing just two earned runs and walking one hitter.
GAME ONE- ILLINOIS 7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
In game one of the day, Illinois dominated all aspects of the game with the highlight performance coming from Sickels, who tossed her second-career no-hitter while recording no walks and striking out a school record 16 batters.
Offensively, freshman Stevie Meade knocked in three RBI's and hit her first-career home run, while redshirt sophomore Jaelyn Vickery launched a two-run home run, her first of the season, and also added two doubles in a 3-for-3 effort. Sophomore Megan Ward also added an RBI for the Illini.
"Sydney pitched a great game against Western Illinois. She was dominant in the circle and kept the WIU batters off balance. We hit the ball well as a unit. We were able produce timely hits when we needed them for the win" head coach Tyra Perry said.
After a quick first inning in which both teams went down in order, Illinois got on the board after junior Kelly Ryono reached base on a fielder's choice and Vickery smashed her in on a deep home run to right field.
Sickels proceeded to strike out the side in both the third and fourth innings, also adding two strikeouts in the fifth to keep the Leathernecks scoreless. In the bottom half of the fifth, sophomore Megan Ward added another Illinois run after a groundout brought home Vickery.
Another two strikeouts in the top half of the sixth from Sickels, along with Meade's first-career home run in the bottom half of the inning brought the score to 4-0 through six innings.
Illinois wasn't done at the plate, though, as Illinois loaded the bases with one out. Senior Avrey Steiner knocked in Vickery on a groundout, while Meade singled to bring in Ward and junior Danielle Davis scored on an errant throw to bring the score to 7-0.
After striking out the first batter in the bottom half of the seventh, an error allowed Sickels' first base runner of the game to reach. Sickels proceeded to strike out the next two batters to seal her no-no, while also moving her total strikeouts to 16, the most in a game in Illinois history.
GAME TWO- ILLINOIS 3, LONGWOOD 5
Illinois battled throughout the nightcap, taking a lead early and tying the score in the fourth inning before falling by two runs. Sickels took the mound again for the Illini, pitching the full game while giving up nine hits and recording 11 strikeouts while walking just one batter.
Offensively, Ward recorded a 2-for-2 effort at the plate, knocking in two runs and recording a walk, while graduate student Bella Loya mashed her first home run of the season to complete the scoring for Illinois.
Illinois struck first in the second inning thanks to Loya's solo home run. Then, Ward singled through the left side to plate Vickery to extend the Illini lead to 2-0.
Longwood answered Illinois' offense in the third inning, scoring two runs on a throwing error and adding another on a passed ball to move the score to 3-2 in favor of the Lancers.
In the fourth, after Davis knocked a double and advanced to third on a throwing error, Ward singled to center field to knot the game at three a piece with three innings left to play.
After Sickels worked through a jam in the top of the fifth and the Illini stranded a runner on third in the bottom half of the inning, the Lancers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a two out, two RBI single.
Illinois would not go quietly into the night, with Meade leading off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. However, Meade was caught stealing, and a strikeout by senior Kailee Powell and a groundout to the first baseman by Vickery ended the Illini's hopes for a comeback.
UP NEXT
Illinois will finish the Razorback Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 20 facing off against #10 Arkansas at 11:15 a.m. CT. No live stream will be available for the game, but fans can still follow the action via live stats and updates from @IlliniSB on Twitter.
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