BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -Â Down three runs through five innings, the Fighting Illini softball team rallied to score three in the sixth inning and forced extra innings, scoring two in the eighth to down Indiana 6-4 in eight innings Friday afternoon in the series opener.
Junior outfielder Kelly Ryono fueled the offense with three RBI in the game, including the game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning. Senior Kailee Powell provided the tying RBI in the sixth on a double to left-center, while freshman Paige Berkmeyer added an RBI on a sacrafice fly in the third. Redshirt junior Danielle Davis had a 2-for-3 effort in the series opener, and freshman Stevie Meade provided two hits for the Illini on the afternoon.
In the circle, senior Sydney Sickels came in relief in the sixth inning for the Illini, allowing no runs and no hits while walking one and striking out seven in three innings pitched, earning the win. Freshman Lauren Wiles started the game for the Illini, tossing five innings and striking out five batters.
"Today's game was not our best but we never gave up and competed until the last out. Sydney Sickels was masterful in the circle. She gave us the boost we needed and held us down until the offense was able to finish the job" head coach Tyra Perry said. "Tomorrow is a new day and Indiana is a good team. We have to stay focused and continue to play team ball."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Illini went down in order in the top of the first, Indiana was able to grab an early lead after a double to left-center to score a run. It was much of the same in the second, with Illinois going down in order and Indiana again finding a run after a passed ball scored a runner, making the score 2-0 in favor of the home team through two innings.Â
Illinois got things going in the third with back-to-back singles from Bella Loya and Davis, and a passed ball advanced the runners 60 feet putting two in scoring position with no outs. Berkmeyer stepped to the plate and was able to knock a deep fly ball that was caught by the right fielder, but the throw to the plate on a tagging runner was late and the Illini cut the deficit in half through three innings.
After both teams went down in the fourth and the Illini in order in the fifth, the Hoosiers added another pair of runs on a two-run home run to left field, pushing the score to 4-1 through five innngs. Illinois began the rally in the sixth as another pair of singles from Avrey Steiner and Meade put two runners on, and a fielders choice off the bat of Megan Ward placed runners on first and third with one away. After Ward stole second base, the IU second baseman misplayed a grounder off the bat of Ryono, allowing two runs to come home and score. With Ryono on second, Powell then came to the plate and smacked an RBI double to the gap in left-center to tie the game at four heading into the seventh.Â
With Sickels entering the circle in a tied game, she sat down the Hoosier bats in order in the sixth with three strikeouts before striking out another in the seventh, preventing the home team walk-off and sending the game to the final frame tied at four. Davis got on base in the seventh with a double, but the pinch runner was caught stealing trying to score to keep the game tied. After the Hoosiers got their leadoff batter on base with a walk and a steal put a runner in scoring position, Sickels was able to collect a backwards K to send the game to extra frames tied at four.
In the eighth, Meade started extras with a double before advancing to third on a stolen base. With one out, Ryono then stepped to the plate and knocked an RBI single up the middle, putting the Illini up a run. Ryono then came around to score on a wild pitch, extending Illinois' lead to two. Sickels again entered the circle looking to wrap up, and a trio of strikeouts swinging ended the series opener in favor of the Illini by a score of 6-4 in eight innings.
UP NEXT
The series at Indiana continues tomorrow morning, as the Illini will face off against the Hoosiers tomorrow (April 30), with an 11 a.m. CT scheduled first pitch.
