CLEARWATER, Fla. – Illinois softball opened the season with a pair of games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex on Friday night. The Fighting Illini took down Southern in dominating fashion, securing a five-inning 14-2 victory. The team dropped its following contest to No. 13 Tennessee, 9-2.
GAME ONE
The bats came alive in Illinois softball's season opener as the Fighting Illini topped Southern, 14-2, in a five-inning affair.
Addy Jarvis earned the win in the circle for Illinois (1-0). After missing the 2022 season due to injury, the right-hander pitched 3.1 shutout innings in her debut, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out a pair.
Avrey Steiner led the way offensively for the Fighting Illini, going 3-for-3 in the ballgame with a triple and two RBI. Stevie Meade was a standout at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini got on the board immediately, starting their scoring three runs in the opening frame, Meade tallied a double down the left field line, helping the squad to an early 3-0 lead.
The Fighting Illini once again put together a three-run frame, culminating in a run-scoring single from senior Kelly Ryono, which gave the Fighting Illini the 6-0 edge.
Jarvis threw another scoreless inning before the Illini built on their advantage, extending it to 10-0. Brianna Nykaza's two-RBI single highlighted the frame along with an RBI single from Megan Ward
Illinois held the Jaguars without a run before the offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Fighting Illini pushed two runs across the plate in the frame, punctuated with an RBI triple off the bat of Steiner, bringing the score to 12-0 in favor of Illinois.
The Fighting Illini kept Southern off the board before expanding their lead to 14-0 the following inning. Illinois picked up a pair of runs in the frame after an error by the opposition. Southern put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Fighting Illini remained in control, coasting to the 14-2 win.
GAME TWO
Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, the Illini fell to the Volunteers, 9-2, in their final game of the day.
Tori McQueen earned the start in the circle, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing two runs on one hit and tallying one strikeout. Lauren Wiles dropped to 0-1 with the loss, tossing 1.2 innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Sydney Sickels also appeared in the loss, throwing 1.1 innings while surrendering five runs on three hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After three scoreless innings for both squads Kelly Ryono drew first blood, blasting a two-run home run over the left field fence.
However, the lead was short-lived as the Orange and Blue surrendered a pair in the bottom of the frame after a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice helped the Vols push a pair of runs across the plate.
Despite a rally that saw Illinois post a pair of singles in the frame, the Illini were outscored 7-0 in the following innings, ultimately falling 9-2 to the ranked Tennessee squad.
Illinois continues play in the Sunshine State with a pair of games against Fordham and No. 6 Texas on Saturday.
GAME NOTES
» Head Coach Tyra Perry faced off against her little sister Brittney Williams in the matchup against Southern. Perry is 1-0 in games against her sibling.
» The Fighting Illini have won seven-straight season openers, dating back to 2017.
» Avrey Steiner has hit safely in 13-straight games, dating back to the 2022 season.
» Kelly Ryono's home run was the first of the season and seventh of her career
