MADISON, Wis. – Fighting Illini softball dropped its series opener, 6-2, against Wisconsin at Goodman Diamond on Friday afternoon.
With the loss, Illinois falls to 21-13 this year and 0-4 in Big Ten play. The Badgers improved to 16-9 overall and 3-1 against league opponents.
Sydney Sickels took the loss in the circle as the right-hander tossed 6.0 innings and allowed six runs on six hits while fanning four.
Kelly Ryono led the way offensively for the Fighting Illini, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a double and two RBI. Stevie Meade put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3. Sydney Malott also added a double for Illinois.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini bats came alive early with Avrey Steiner and Meade logging back-to-back singles in their first at bats. Ryono knocked a deep double off the wall, scoring the runners, breaking open the contest.
The 2-0 Illini edge was short-lived as a two-run homer knotted the game at two apiece in the bottom of the inning.
A pair of scoreless frames followed for both teams, but it was the Badgers that took the lead in the fourth with a solo blast. Three more runs came in for Wisconsin in the bottom of the fifth, extending the 6-2 lead for the home team.
The Orange and Blue went down in order during the final two innings, concluding the 6-2 loss for the Illini.
UP NEXT
The second game of the Big Ten series with Wisconsin will take place on Saturday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore navy uniforms, moving to 5-3 while donning those.
» The Illini are now 11-2 when scoring in the first and 1-7 when allowing the opposition to score in the opening frame.
» Sickels now owns a 9-5 record in the circle. The loss marked her 10th complete game this year.
» Ryono extending her hitting streak to 10 when she went 1-for-3 on the day.
» Illinois dropped to 31-21 all-time against Wisconsin.
» The Fighting Illini fell to 18-11 in day games this year.
