PISCATAWAY, N.J. – In the first game of a three-game series, the Fighting Illini softball team used a pair of four run innings to down Rutgers 9-5 Friday afternoon at Rutgers Softball Complex.
Senior Kailee Powell had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in the second inning. Powell came just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle after notching a home run in the second, double in the fourth, and a single in the fifth. Senior Avrey Steiner added two RBI on a double in the second, while junior Kelly Ryono notched a home run and a double in the contest.
Graduate student Bella Loya went 2-for-4 in the game, including a double in the second inning for her 200th career hit. Loya is just the 13th hitter in Illini history to surpass the 200 career hit mark.
In the circle, sophomore left hander and reigning B1G Pitcher of the Week Tori McQueen earned the win despite giving up five runs in four to the Scarlet Knights, while freshman Lauren Wiles (2.0 IP) and senior Sydney Sickels (1.0 IP) combined to give up no hits and strikeout four batters to stop the Rutgers offense and give the Illini the victory.
"It's always good to start a Big Ten weekend off with a win. It is especially true when you're on the road. Kailee Powell was amazing at the plate today. Sydney Sickels came in at the end of the game and shut the door with her arm and with a heads up defensive play" head coach Tyra Perry said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite a Megan Ward walk, both teams went down quickly in the first frame of the game with McQueen picking up her first strikeout of the day to end the first inning.
Illinois opened the scoring in the second inning with four runs on four hits. Ryono started the inning with a double, while Paige Berkmeyer walked to put runners on first and second with just one out. Powell then stepped to the plate and launched a high drive to left field that found its way over the wall and out for a three-run shot to to open a 3-0 lead. Loya then notched her 200th career hit, a double through the left side, and came around to score on a two-out RBI double from Steiner. Rutgers added their first run in the second on an RBI single, but a swinging strikeout from McQueen stopped the Rutgers threat and kept the score at 4-1 Illinois through two innings.
In the third, Ryono stepped to the plate and rocketed a ball out to center field that flew over the wall for a solo home run, pushing the lead to four for the Illini. Rutgers again answered in the bottom half of the inning after a two RBI double moved the score to 5-3 through three innings.
The fourth inning for the Illini saw another four runs cross the plate on four more hits and an error by Rutgers. Powell led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Danielle Davis then walked and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Steiner then hit a grounder to the first baseman who tried to throw Powell out at the plate, but she was able to move around the tag and tally another run for the Illini. Ward then singled to tally another run, and Ryono reached first on an error for another. Delaney Rummell then singled to right field to score Stevie Meade and wrap up the Illini scoring in the fourth, moving the score to 9-3.
Rutgers again answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth on a two-run home run to left field to trim Illinois' lead to four after four innings.
In the fifth, back-to-back singles from Powell and Loya put two runners on with no outs, but three-straight groundouts prevented the Illini from adding to their lead. Rutgers led off the bottom of the inning with a double and Wiles entered the game, who induced a fly out and two-straight K's to put another zero on the board.
Illinois again placed two runners on in the sixth but were unable to capitalize, and Rutgers found another baserunner on a walk but Wiles was able to silence the bats with a strikeout to end the inning. Protecting a four-run lead, Sickels entered the game after a leadoff walk from the Scarlet Knights. A hit by pitch put another runner on for Rutgers, but Sickels was able to turn a double play to end the game in favor of the Illini by a score of 9-5.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is set for a 2:00 p.m. CT first pitch tomorrow (Saturday, April 16). Fans can follow the game live on B1G+.
