BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -Â The Fighting Illini softball team used a two-run first inning and shutdown pitching to shutout Indiana 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Andy Mohr Field to clinch the series victory over the Hoosiers.
Illinois improved to 32-16 overall and 14-4 in the Big Ten, clinching their fifth-straight series victory in conference play. The Illini have a 5-0-2 record in Big Ten series this season, with series victories over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Iowa, and now Indiana, while splitting series with Purdue and Northwestern. The Hoosiers fell to 25-19 overall with a 8-11 mark in conference play.
At the plate, junior Kelly Ryono powered the Illini offense for the second-straight day, knocking in the only two runs in the game on a two-RBI double in the first inning, going 2-for-3 overall in the game. Senior Avrey Steiner also had a 2-for-3 effort with a run scored, while freshman Paige Berkmeyer added a double in a pinch-hit opportunity and graduate student Bella Loya knocked her third career triple while catching two Hoosier runners stealing.
In the circle, sophomore southpaw Tori McQueen earned the win and improved to 13-4 on the season, tossing six scoreless innings giving up just four hits and one walk while striking out three batters. Natalie Foor of the Hoosiers took the loss and fell to 0-3 on the season, while senior Sydney Sickels earned her fourth save of the season with a shutdown seventh inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning, tacking on two runs. Steiner led the game off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Stevie Meade. Megan Ward was then hit by a pitch to bring up the red-hot bat of Ryono, who knocked a two-RBI double to right-center field to put the Illini up 2-0 early. McQueen started the first with a strikeout and sat down the Hoosiers in order in the first.
Loya led off the second inning with a triple, the fourth of her career, but was ultimately stranded at third despite a walk from Danielle Davis. The Hoosiers found their first hit in the second with a double and added another baserunner via a hit by pitch, but a popout ended the scoring chances for the home team in the second.Â
Illinois again threatened in the third after back-to-back singles from Ryono and Delaney Rummell, forcing a Hoosier pitching change, but both runners were left on base to end the half inning, while the Hoosiers were unable to bring around a leadoff bunt single in their half of the third.
A Steiner single highlighted the fourth for the Illini, while in the bottom half of the inning the Hoosiers were able to get runners on, but Loya ended the inning after tossing a rocket to second to catch the runner trying to steal. Ward led off the fifth with a walk but was caught stealing, while again in the fifth Loya was able to wipe a leadoff single from the Hoosiers off the board after catching the runner stealing at second.Â
Both teams went down in order in the sixth and sent the game to the final frame with the Illini holding a two-run lead. Berkmeyer led off the seventh with a double and was pinch ran for by Gabi Robles, who advanced to third on a groundout, but was caught trying to grab home plate, and the Illini headed to the bottom of the inning trying to secure a two-run victory. Sickels entered the circle looking for her fourth save of the season, and proceeded to induce a groundout and a fly out before catching the final batter of the game swinging to seal the 2-0 shutout victory for the Illini.
UP NEXT
The Illini will look to secure their third series sweep of the season in the finale tomorrow (May 1) afternoon against the Hoosiers. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on B1G+.
