URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini softball team took care of their final midweek opponent Wednesday evening, defeating Western Illinois 8-0 in five innings at Eichelberger Field.
Illinois (33-17, 14-5 B1G) was powered by a 2-for-3 day from freshman Stevie Meade, who knocked In three RBI and scored two runs, while junior Delaney Rummell knocked in two RBI and freshman Paige Berkmeyer walked the game off in the fifth with a two-RBI single. In the circle, freshman Lauren Wiles tossed five shutout innings, giving up just four hits and no walks while striking out four batters to improve to 8-4 on the season. For the Leathernecks (8-34), Savannah Rodriguez took the loss and dropped to 1-7 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Leathernecks threatened in the first with two singles putting runners on, but Wiles was able to induce a ground out to short to end the threat. The bats wasted no time getting in motion in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on three hits and an error. Avrey Steiner led off the inning with a single and stole second base while advancing to third on a passed ball. Megan Ward then walked, and Steiner scored on another passed ball to put the Illini up early. With Ward now on second, Meade was able to smack a double to right-center field to add another run, while a throwing error by a Leatherneck infielder off the bat of Rummell tacked on a third run in the inning,
Wiles was able to sit down the Leathernecks in order in both the second and third, while the Illini at the plate threatened to add more runs but ultimately left a trio of runners on base in the middle innings. In the top of the fourth, Western Illinois put together a rally after a double and a single put runners on the corners with two outs, but Wiles was able to catch the last batter swinging to leave two runners on.
In the Illini half of the fourth, another three runs and two hits doubled the lead. Danielle Davis led the inning off with a single and a Steiner groundout advanced the pinch runner Lakyn Wagoner to second. A fielding error by the Leatherneck shortstop allowed Ward to reach base and advance Wagoner to third, and a Meade single through the right side allowed two runners to score and increase the lead to 5-0. Meade stole second and Kelly Ryono walked to put two runners on, and a passed ball advanced the runners 60 feet. Rummell then stepped to the plate and hit a deep fly ball to right field, allowing Meade to tag and score to put another run on the board.
Wiles sat down Western Illinois in order in the fifth, adding her fourth strikeout on the evening, and the Illini offense looked to tack on another two runs to complete the run-rule. The Illini did just that in the bottom of the fifth, as a Zoe Caryl single and a Davis walk put two runners on, while a double steal put the runners on second and third. Berkmeyer then stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter and knocked a single up the middle, allowing Davis and pinch runner Zoie Howard to score and complete the run-rule victory, 8-0.
UP NEXT
The Illini will wrap up the regular season at Eichelberger Field this weekend, facing off against Penn State in a three-game set. Friday's game is scheuled for a 5:00 p.m. CT first pitch, while Saturday the Illini will host the return of the "World's Largest Softball Tailgate" with the game against the Nittany Lions scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch, while celebratng seniors Bella Loya and Lakyn Wagoner for a senior day ceremony post game. In the regular-season finale on Sunday, the Illini will be on national television for the third time this season, with a 1:30 p.m. CT first pitch on the Big Ten Network.
