ST. LOUIS, Mo. - After adding the midweek matchup just 24 hours previously, the Fighting Illini softball team grabbed a tight 3-2 victory over the Saint Louis Billikens Tuesday evening in St. Louis.
Illinois (15-12, 1-1 B1G) was led by senior Avrey Steiner, who added three hits and a run driven in, while freshman Stevie Meade extended her hitting streak to nine with a two-for-two night and an RBI and graduate student Bella Loya knocked in the winning run. In the circle, freshman Lauren Wiles started the game striking out two batters through three innings, while sophomore Tori McQueen earned the win via four scoreless innings, striking out five batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois threatened in the first inning, but ultimately stranded a runner on third, while the Billikens got things going early loading the bases with none out. Wiles battled back getting a force out at home plate, a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the first inning unscathed.
Despite a Zoe Caryl single, Illinois and the Billikens went quietly in the second inning. In the third, the Billikens put the first runs of the day on the board via a sac fly and groundout, grabbing a 2-0 advantage through three innings.
After both teams went down quickly in the fourth, Illinois responded with a big inning of their own, plating three batters in the top of the fifth. Steiner got the scoring started, slapping an RBI single up the middle to score Zoie Howard, while a Meade sac fly added another run to tie the game, and Loya finished the scoring with an RBI single through the left side, putting Illinois in the lead.
With McQueen on the mound, Illinois proceeded to shut down the Billikens bats in the sixth and seventh inning, and escaped with the win after the final batter of the game nearly launced a game-tying home run to straighaway center field before Gabi Robles made the catch to end the game in favor of the Illini, 3-2.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads back to Eichelberger Field tomorrow evening, taking on Indiana State on Mar. 30 for a 5:00 p.m. CT first pitch. Fans can catch the game live on B1G+.
