MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – In a nationally televised game on ESPN2, the Fighting Illini softball team heated up the bats and used an eight run seventh inning to pull away and defeat Minnesota 15-5 in the series finale. Illinois' picks up their first Big Ten series win of the season, and the first series victory over the Gophers since 2012.
Illinois (17-13, 3-2 B1G) had six different players record multiple hits in the game, with junior Delaney Rummell and freshman Paige Berkmeyer contributing two hits and three RBI on the afternoon, while junior Brianna Nykaza, redshirt junior Danielle Davis, and sophomore Megan Ward contributed two RBI. In the circle, sophomore Tori McQueen earned her second victory of the weekend in relief, pitching five innings and striking out two Gophers.
"The team played tough today. We challenged them to bounce back after a rough outing Saturday and they responded in full force" head coach Tyra Perry said. "Lauren Wiles and Tori McQueen did a great job of keeping us in the game, and Kelly Ryono and Paige Berkmeyer strung together several quality at bats to lead our offense."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After two walks in the first inning brought an Illini runner into scoring position, the Illini were unable to capitalize on the early opportunity, while the Gophers grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on a two-RBI single to right field. Illinois responded quickly in the second inning, with Ward knocking a two-RBI double to knot the game at two through two innings.
The Illini were able to gain the lead in the third and never gave it up the rest of the game after a HBP, walk, and a single loaded the bases with two outs. Davis was then called on to pinch hit, and she delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Illini ahead 4-2 through three innings.
In the fourth, Illinois grabbed another run after Rummell beat out an infield single to score Gabi Robles. Minnesota responded with a run of their own in the fifth to make it a 6-3 ballgame, but Illinois came back in the top of the sixth with another run via a Berkmeyer RBI single. Minnesota brought the game within two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on a triple and an RBI groundout, and the game stood at 7-5 Illinois heading into the final frame.
With Illinois up to bat in the top of the seventh, the bats exploded for eight runs on six hits and two Gopher errors. The scoring got started with the bases loaded with just one gone, when Ryono reached on a fielder's choice after the first baseman dropped the throw to first, scoring Ward. Rummell then launched an RBI double down the left field line, and Kailee Powell singled through the right side to push the score to 10-5.
Illinois' scoring was not done, however, as a two-RBI single from Berkmeyer tallied two more runs before Jaelyn Vickery ripped a double to left center field to put runners on second and third. Nykaza was brought in to pinch hit and delivered a two-RBI single to push the score to 15-5 Illinois. The Gophers got a baserunner on in the bottom half of the seventh, but were unable to mount a comeback after a flyout to center field gave Illinois the blowout and series victory.
UP NEXT
Illinois is set to play five games in the next seven days, beginning Tuesday evening when the Illini host SIUE at 5:00 p.m. CT. Illinois will then travel to Illinois State on Wednesday and open the Big Ten home schedule with a three-game set against Wisconsin.
