TAMPA – Illinois softball split its Saturday doubleheader at the USF Tournament, taking down Marist, 7-5, before dropping its rematch with USF, 2-1.
The Fighting Illini moved to 15-7 following the twinbill. Marist dropped to 7-12 on the year while USF improved to 13-12 overall.
GAME ONE
Illinois topped Marist, 7-5, to start the day at the USF Softball Stadium.
Addy Jarvis got the win for Illinois as the right-hander went six innings, giving up five runs, one earned, on six hits and striking out five. Junior Tori McQueen earned the save, pitching one shutout inning that included a strikeout.
Delaney Rummell went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI to lead the Fighting Illini. Stevie Meade went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first when Kelly Ryono added a long RBI double in her first at bat of the day. An error in the frame added another run for Illinois, extending the 2-0 advantage.
The Fighting Illini held the Red Foxes scoreless before getting back on the board when RBI single off the bat of Rummell gave Illinois the 3-0 edge.
Illinois' lead evaporated in the third inning as Marist plated four unearned runs. Sydney Malott tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning and Avrey Steiner added a hit of her own for the Orange and Blue to regain the lead.
Meade logged a triple in the fourth, putting the Fighting Illini ahead 6-4, before Paige Berkmeyer brought the runner home.
Marist added an RBI double in the fifth inning, but it was the final run to come across for either squad as Illinois triumphed over the Red Foxes, 7-5.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore white jerseys moving to 3-1 while donning those.
» Jarvis improved to 3-0 on the year
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Red Foxes at an 11-7 clip.
» Illinois went 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Marist pitching.
» The five runs allowed were the most for the Illini during a victory this season.
» The 11 hits by Illinois tied for the most by the team this year.
» The game extended Rummell hitting streak to eight and Ryono's to six games
GAME TWO
Despite the offensive display in the first game of the day, the Fighting Illini were held to just four hits and one run in the 2-1 loss to South Florida.
Sydney Sickels took the loss in the circle for Illinois. The right-hander tossed a complete game giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five.
Danielle Davis and Stevie Meade each provided a noteworthy performance at the plate with both players going 1-for-3 with a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After three scoreless innings for both sides, Illinois broke open the game in the fourth, beginning with a single from Kelly Ryono. The senior came around to score on a USF error, giving the Illini a one-run lead.
The advantage was short lived as the Bulls scored a pair in the fifth frame. A single and a pair of triples proved to be costly for the Orange and Blue as South Florida went ahead 2-1.
Down to the Illini's final out, Meade gave Illinois hope with a double to deep centerfield. However, a strikeout shattered the Fighting Illini's hopes, handing the team its first loss of the weekend.
Illinois returns to action with its USF Tournament finale as the team faces Saint Francis at 9 a.m. CT on Sunday.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore white jerseys moving to 3-2 while donning those.
» The Illini moved to 2-2 against teams from the American Athletic Confer4ence
» Sickels dropped to 7-2 in the circle with the loss.
» The game extended Ryono's hitting streak to seven games.
