URBANA, Ill. - Illinois softball took down Indiana State in a doubleheader sweep at Eichelberger Field on Wednesday. The Fighting Illini earned the 3-1 victory before blanking the Sycamores, 6-0, in the second half of the twinbill.
Illinois improved to 21-12 with the wins while Indiana State dropped to 17-14 for the 2023 campaign.
GAME ONE
The Fighting Illini won a nailbiter in the first half of the doubleheader as the team took down Sycamores, 3-1.
Sydney Sickels tossed a complete game as the right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on five hits and striking out seven.
Delaney Rummell led the way offensively for the Fighting Illini, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with an RBI. Sydney Malott posted a 1-for-3 performance with an RBI. Danielle Davis added an RBI when she went 1-for-2 at the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were held scoreless through three innings but the Fighting Illini put runs on the board in the fourth inning to break open the contest. RBI singles from Rummell, Malott and Davis plated three for the Fighting Illini, giving the squad the 3-0 edge.
A scoreless fifth followed for both dugouts but the Sycamores added back a run in the sixth, closing in on the Illini lead.
Indiana State rallied again in the seventh, putting a pair on with two outs on the board. However, Sickels kept the opposition off the board with a foul out securing the 3-1 victory.
GAME NOTES
» Sickels moved to 9-4 in the circle with the win as she tossed her ninth complete game of the season.
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, moving to 6-3 while donning those.
» The Fighting Illini improved to 18-3 when scoring first.
» The victory pushed Illinois to 4-2 in midweek matchups.
GAME TWO
Lauren Wiles, Tori McQueen and Addy Jarvis combined to throw a shutout in the second half of the twinbill as Illinois blanked Indiana State, 6-0.
Wiles started in the circle for the Fighting Illini, tossing three shutout innings while striking out three. McQueen earned the win, pitching 2.0 innings while giving up one hit and fanning a pair. Jarvis was dealing out of the bullpen, going two shutout innings, allowing a hit while striking out five.
At the plate, the Illini were paced by Delaney Rummell, who went 2-for-2 on the day with a double, a home run and two RBI. Kelly Ryono added a noteworthy performance at the dish, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went scoreless in the opening frame, but Illinois broke open the stalemate in the second as Rummell sent one over the fence for her second home run this year.Â
Illinois doubled its lead in the third with an RBI single from Ryono plated Avrey Steiner, giving the Orange and Blue the 2-0 edge.
A scoreless fourth for both teams followed but the Fighting Illini got back on the board in the fifth with RBI doubles from Rummell and Megan Ward improving the Illinois advantage.Â
Leading 4-0, another two-run inning for the Orange and Blue followed in the sixth with Gabi Robles and Macy Krohman earning RBI singles in the frame.
Looking to close out contest, Jarvis came back to the circle and fanned a pair of Sycamore batters to close out the shutout victory.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns to action when the team travels for a Big Ten series at Wisconsin. First pitch from the opener is slated for 5 p.m. on Friday.
GAME NOTES
» McQueen moved to 4-2 in the circle with the win.
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, improving to 7-3 while donning those.
» The Fighting Illini moved to 19-3 when scoring first.
» The victory helped Illinois improve to 5-2 in midweek matchups.
» Krohman tallied her first RBI of the season during the win.
» Wiles, McQueen, and Jarvis combined to throw a two-hit shutout.
» Illinois is up to eight shutouts on the season, including four combined efforts.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Sycamores at an 8-2 clip.
» Illinois went 5-for-11 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
