URBANA, Ill. - It was a tale of two games for the Fighting Illini softball team Wednesday afternoon at Eichelberger Field, as Illinois was shut out in the first game of a doubleheader against No. 10/8 Northwestern. However, the Illini bounced back in a big way in game two, tallying 11 hits and using a six-run second inning to hand the top-ten Wildcats their most lopsided loss of the season, an 8-0 run-rule victory for the Illini in five innings.
The Illini were able to tally their second top-ten victory of the season in game two vs. Northwestern after Illinois previously defeated No. 10 Arkansas 8-6 on Feb. 20 in Fayetteville, Ark. With a 10-3 conference mark, the Illini sit in third place in the Big Ten just behind Northwestern (2nd, 12-2 B1G) and Nebraska (1st, 13-0 B1G).
"Lauren Wiles' toughness in the circle gave us a chance in Game One but we were not able to get the job done at the plate. We challenged the team in the post game speech to be relentless and to trust their training when the game is on the line and I believe we were more focused in Game Two. Sydney Sickels kept their hitters off balance and we put together a more balanced offensive attack for the win" head coach Tyra Perry said.
GAME ONE | ILLINI 0, #10/8 NORTHWESTERN 3
In the first leg of the doubleheader, Illinois was only able to tally two hits throughout the ball game, with graduate student Bella Loya and sophomore Megan Ward tallying the two Illini hits. Danielle Williams of Northwestern, just today announced to the USA Softball Top 25 National Player of the Year watch list, tossed a complete-game shutout while striking out 12 batters in the game.
In the first, the Wildcats put two runners in scoring position with just one out, but freshman Lauren Wiles was able to get a strikeout and an out at the plate after the Wildcats attempted a double steal, keeping the visitors off the board in the first.Â
Illinois was able to put runners on base in the second after three walks from Kelly Ryono, Kailee Powell, and Danielle Davis loading the bases with just one away. However, the Wildcats were able to get an out at the plate on a fielders choice and a groundout to short ended the inning and the Illini scoring threat.
Both teams went down in order in the third inning, and Northwestern was able to plate three runs in the top of the fourth after a bases-loaded sac fly and a double to left center scored two runs and put the Wildcats on top 3-0.
In the sixth, the Wildcats were able to put runners on the corners with just one out, but a strikeout and a flyout to center ended the threat. Despite a Megan Ward double in the sixth, Illinois was unable to put together a rally and fell to the visiting Wildcats 3-0.
GAME TWO | ILLINI 8, #10/8 NORTHWESTERN 0 (5 INN.)
Illinois was able to put behind their shutout loss in game one by exploding offensively in game two, tallying 11 hits and eight runs to run-rule the Wildcats for the first time this season. In the circle, senior Sydney Sickels extended her shutout streak to 26.1 straight innings without giving up a run, tossing five innings and giving up no runs and just four hits while striking out four batters. At the plate, sophomore Megan Ward went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, junior Delaney Rummell tallied a two-RBI double, while senior Avrey Steiner went 2-for-3 with a double and freshman Paige Berkmeyer went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Graduate student Bella Loya also added to the Illini scoring with a solo home run in the third inning.
In the first, Northwestern got going quickly after a single and an error put a runner on second with one out, and a hit by pitch and a groundout put runners on second and third with two away, but a groundout ended the inning. In the bottom of the first, Steiner led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Meade laid down a sacrafice bunt to move Steiner to third, and a groundout from Ward allowed Steiner to score and put the Illini up 1-0 early.Â
The Illini were able to put up a big number in the second inning, tallying six runs on seven hits and an error. Kailee Powell led off the inning with a walk, and Loya singled down the right field line to put runners on first and second with no outs. Berkmeyer then singled up the middle and advanced the runners ahead a base, but Powell was able to score after an errant throw from the outfield went to the backstop. Gabi Robles then bunted for a single to load the bases, and Steiner was able to advance all runners 60 feet with a single, moving the score to 3-0 with the bases still loaded with no outs. With one out, Meade then doubled to right-center field to score two more runs, and a Ryono single followed by a Davis double to right-center scored another two runners, pushing the score to 7-0 before a groundout ended the inning.
Northwestern grabbed a leadoff double in the third but was unable to bring the runner around, while the Illini extended their lead to 8-0 after a leadoff solo home run to left field by Loya. In the fourth, the Wildcats put together a threat after a hit by pitch, walk, and a fielding error loaded the bases with two away, but Sickels was able to induce a flyout to center field to end the Wildcat's scoring threat.
With the Illini needing three more outs to secure the run-rule victory, Northwestern continued to fight with two outs as back-to-back singles put two runners on, but Sickels was able to catch the final batter with a backwards K to end the game and secure the 8-0 shutout victory.
UP NEXT
The Illini will continue conference play at Eichelberger Field this weekend, hosting the Iowa Hawkeyes for a three-game set from April 22-24.
