URBANA, Ill. -Â The Fighting Illini softball team used a strong outing from senior Sydney Sickels and base hits from seven different players to down Indiana State 5-0 Tuesday evening at Eichelberger Field.
Illinois (23-13, 6-2 B1G) was led by a two-hit shutout from Sickels, who struck out 10 batters on the evening while walking just one batter. At the plate, seven different Illini notched hits in the game, with junior Kelly Ryono tallying two RBI's and a double in the contest, while senior Avrey Steiner, redshirt junior Danielle Davis, and freshman Paige Berkmeyer added two-baggers in the game.
"Today was sloppy but we got the job done. We found ourselves searching for a clutch hit in bases loaded situations again today but I know that the big hits will come soon" head coach Tyra Perry said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sickels got the strikeouts going early, notching all three outs in the first via the K while working around a double from the second batter of the game. Illinois found a double of their own from Steiner in the first, and she came around to score on an RBI groundout from Ryono to give Illinois the early 1-0 lead.
Sickels notched another two K's in the second, and the Illini threatened to score again in the second after loading the bases thanks to a Davis double, Kailee Powell single, and a Zoe Caryl walk. However, a fielders choice that nabbed an Illinois runner trying to score and a groundout ended Illinois' chances in the second.
Another quick 1-2-3 inning in the third for Sickels allowed the Illinois offense to tack on two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Megan Ward led off the inning with a single up the middle and came all the way around from first to score on a Ryono double. After Berkmeyer walked, Illinois executed a double steal of second and home, with Ryono crossing the plate to move Illinois' lead to 3-0. Illinois again loaded the bases with one away, but the Sycamores were able to set down the Illini bats to keep their deficit to three.
Indiana State put two runners on base with just one out in the fourth, but Sickels was able to sit a batter down looking on a strikeout and induce a flyout to keep the Sycamores off the board. Illinois followed with a 1-2-3 inning at the plate, as did the Sycamores in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Illinois looked to end the game via run-rule after a Delaney Rummell single came around to score on a Berkmeyer double, and Illinois again loaded the bases, this time with no outs in the inning. However, a foul out and two-straight popouts ended the scoring threat in the fifth.Â
A pair of 1-2-3 innings from Sickels in the sixth and seventh while adding two more strikeouts ended the Sycamores' chances of a comeback, and sealed Illinois' 5-0 shutout victory at Eichelberger Field.
UP NEXT
Illinois will hit the road this weekend to continue Big Ten conference play, traveling to Piscataway to take on Rutgers for a three-game set from Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17.
