ATHENS, Ga. – On the final day of the UGA Classic, the Fighting Illini softball team made quick work of Dartmouth, defeating the Big Green 9-1 in five innings, and dropped a tight decision to No. 16/21 Georgia by a score of 4-3.
In game one, the Illini went down a run early but rallied with the bats, grabbing the lead back in the third inning and using a six-run fifth inning to defeat Dartmouth via run-rule. Senior Avrey Steiner collected three hits and an RBI in the game, while senior Kailee Powell tallied two hits and a run batted in. Redshirt junior Danielle Davis tallied two RBIs on the morning, while graduate student Bella Loya, junior Kelly Ryono, and freshman Zoe Caryl also recorded an RBI to fuel the Illini. In the circle, senior Sydney Sickels have up just three hits and one walk, striking out seven batters in the victory.
In game two, the Illini went on top early but Georgia used a three-run third inning to pull away in the contest, and despite chipping away at the lead, Illinois was unable to complete a comeback and fell to the No.16/21 ranked Bulldogs, 4-3. At the plate, junior Delaney Rummell two hits and her team-leading seventh home run of the season. Ryono also contributed to the scoring for the Illini, tallying two hits and an RBI, while junior Miranda Gallardo also scored a run off a Bulldog error. In the circle, freshman Lauren Wiles came in relief and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit to keep the Illini in the game late.
GAME ONE | ILLINI 9, DARTMOUTH 1 (5 INN.)
Dartmouth grabbed an early 1-0 lead after a fielding error allowed a runner to score, but Illinois was able to get out of the inning after the Illini caught a Dartmouth runner trying to steal home.
After Illinois and Dartmouth were sat down in order in the bottom of the first and top of the second, in the bottom half of the second Illinois responded with the equalizing run after Rummell scored on a wild pitch.
Illinois got out of a jam in the top of the third after a runner was caught stealing, and the Illini responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on a sac fly from Loya and a fielding error by the center fielder scored Steiner.
Both teams threatened to score in their respective halves of the fourth and fifth, but the Illini were able to plate six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Two straight singles from Steiner and Jaelyn Vickery and a hit-by-pitch from Loya juiced the bases for the Illini, and Ryono was able to work the bases-loaded walk for the first run. Powell then singled to score another run, Caryl worked another walk for another, and Davis knocked a two RBI double into left center to move the score to 8-1. A Steiner single plated the final run of the game, sealing a 9-1 run-rule victory for the Illini in five innings.
GAME TWO | NO. 16/21 GEORGIA 4, ILLINOIS 3
Illinois began the game with a leadoff single from Megan Ward, but was unable to bring her back to the plate to start the first. Starter Tori McQueen struck out the first two batters and induced a groundout to end the Bulldogs' chances in the first before the Illini tacked on their first run of the day, a team-leading seventh home run by Rummell, a solo shot to opposite right field.
Georgia responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the second, a leadoff solo home run to left field, knotting the game at one a piece. Georgia then plated three runs in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI singles and a steal of home plate.
Illinois began chipping away at the Bulldog lead in the fourth, as Rummell stole home to bring the deficit to two, while Wiles entered the game and pitched out of a jam to keep the deficit to two.
After threatening again in the fifth but leaving a runner on base, Illinois got a quick inning from Wiles to again keep the Bulldog bats at bay. In the sixth, Illinois found another run after Ryono knocked a single up the right field line, plating Gallardo and advancing to third on a fielding error by the right fielder. Davis was then hit by a pitch to extend the inning, but a strikeout ended Illinois scoring chances in the sixth.
Wiles again pitched out of a jam in the bottom half of the sixth after the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs. But, Wiles was able to make quick work of the final batter, striking her out in three pitches to keep the deficit to one heading into the top of the seventh. In the seventh, Illinois was unable to mount a comeback, going down in order to give the Bulldogs a one run 4-3 win.
UP NEXT
Illinois will welcome SIU-Edwardsville to Eichelberger Field on Tuesday, Mar. 22 for a 5 p.m. first pitch before opening the Big Ten season at Purdue from Mar. 25-27.
