NORMAL, Ill. -Â The Fighting Illini softball team recorded their second-straight run-rule midweek victory on Wednesday evening, defeating in-state rival Illinois State 11-3 in six innings behind a six-run fourth and five-run fifth inning.
Freshman Paige Berkmeyer led the Illini at the plate and continued her hot streak, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI on the evening. Redshirt junior Danielle Davis provided the Illini pop off the bench, smashing a two-run home run in a pinch hitting appearance in the sixth, while sophomore Megan Ward, junior Kelly Ryono, and graduate student Bella Loya added RBI's on the evening as well. In the circle, freshman Lauren Wiles earned the win tossing four innings and giving up just two runs and striking out two batters, while sophomore Tori McQueen came in relief and tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three.
"I thought our bats got off to a slow start but eventually started to heat up in the fourth. I am very pleased with the poise and consistency Kelly Ryono and Paige Berkmeyer are bringing to our offense as of late" head coach Tyra Perry said. "The defense, however, needs to step it up a bit in order to reach the level of play we are capable of. We will continue to work hard in our training sessions to sure up a few things before the weekend."
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a pitchers duel through the first two innings, with just a single from the Redbirds being the only offense that could be found from either team. Illinois had a chance in the top of the third with Berkemyer on second, but nothing came of it. Illinois State threatened in the bottom half of the inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Wiles was able to strikeout the final batter to keep the Redbirds off the board.Â
In the top of the fourth, the Illini bats exploded for six runs on six hits. Ryono got the scoring started for the Illini, singling in Avrey Steiner, and after a Delaney Rummell double advanced Ryono to third, she came around to score on a bunt single from Loya. A Kailee Powell walk loaded the bases, and Berkmeyer stepped up to the plate and launched a double into the right center gap to clear the bases and bring around three more Illini runs. A Ward single to right that scored Zoie Howard from third wrapped up the Illini scoring in the fourth.
Illinois State got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth after a throwing error placed runners on second and third with one out, and a groundout brought around a Redbird runner, but Wiles was able to induce a pair of ground outs to end the Redbirds' chances of adding on. ISU added another two runs in the fifth to cut the score to 6-3 after a groundout and a SAC fly.
Illinois responded to the Redbirds scoring in the top of the sixth inning with five runs. After Berkmeyer doubled to lead off the inning, Davis stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and launched a two-run home run to left center field, extending the lead to 8-3 Illinois. After a pair of walks and two stolen bases by Steiner placed runners on the corners, Ryono and Steiner executed a double steal, scoring Steiner to add another Illini run. Another pair of walks loaded the bases for Illinois, and Ryono scored on a wild pitch for another run while Berkmeyer beat out an infied single to move the score to 11-3.
With McQueen in the circle, she struck out the first two batters before inducing a foul out to secure Illinois' second-straight run-rule victory of the week, this one over the Redbirds by a score of 11-3 in six innings.
UP NEXT
The Illini are set to host the Wisconsin Badgers this weekend for a three-game set. The weekend schedule was altered slightly due to forecasted weatehr on Friday, with the teams playing a doubleheader on Saturday (April 2) beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT with game two occurring 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one, and the final game of the series set for a 12:00 p.m. CT first pitch on Sunday (April 3).Â
