MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -Â In the series opener between Illinois and Minnesota, the Fighting Illini softball team fought late and used a home run from junior Kelly Ryono to grab a 2-1Â victory over the Gophers in eight innings.
Ryono provided heroics in the game both at the plate and on the field, throwing a runner out at home plate to keep the score tied at one, and going 2-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run in the eighth inning to catapult the Illini to a series-opening win. Freshman Stevie Meade provided an RBI double to tie the game in the sixth, while senior Avrey Steiner collected two hits in the contest and scored the tying run. In the circle, sophomore left hander Tori McQueen pitched all eight innings, striking out 10 Gophers including the final out to seal the victory.
"I am proud of our efforts today. We have been calling for toughness especially in the critical moments of the game and the players responded" head coach Tyra Perry said. "Tori McQueen was dynamite in the circle today, she showed a ton of poise. Kelly Ryono was clutch in the field with the play at home and at the plate with the home run."
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a pitchers duel through the first two innings, as each pitcher got quick Innings and worked through a pair of hits to keep the game scoreless through two. Minnesota struck first in the bottom half of the third after a batter reached second on an Illini fielding error and came around to score on a single through the right side. The Gophers continued their run in the third, loading the bases with none out, but McQueen was able to induce a fly out and two strikeouts to limit the damage to just one run.
Both teams went down quick in the fourth before the Illini found their best scoring opportunity In the fifth, but a pop out stranded two runners on base. The Illini found the equalizer in the sixth inning after Steiner doubled and Meade followed with another double to tie the game at one. In the bottom half of the inning, a double and a fielding error put a Gopher baserunner on third with one out. Ryono then came up clutch on the defensive side, catching a fly out in right and tossing a rocket to the plate to throw out the runner tagging from third to keep the game tied heading into the seventh inning.
The Illini loaded the bases with two out in the seventh inning looking for the go-ahead run, but a groundout ended the Illini scoring threat. In the bottom half of the inning, the Illini got two quick outs, but a Gopher hitter launched a double into the gap but Meade was able to throw the runner out at third to send the contest into extra innings.
In the eighth, Meade and Loya were sat down before Ryono stepped up to the plate in a tie game with two outs. With the count full, Ryono launched a ball to deep right center field that narrowly found its way over the wall for a solo home run to put the Illini up one run. In the bottom half of the inning, McQueen was able to induce two quick fly outs and struck out the final batter to seal the 2-1 league victory.
UP NEXT
The series with Minnesota continues tomorrow afternoon (April 2), with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the game live on B1G+.
