COLUMBIA, S.C. – Illinois softball suffered its first loss at the Gamecock Invitational, dropping a contest to host South Carolina, 4-1, on Saturday at Carolina Softball Stadium
The setback snapped a five-game winnings streak, moving the Fighting Illini to 11-6 on the year. South Carolina improved to 17-2 with the win.
Sydney Sickels pitched a complete game and took the loss for just the first time this year. The Indianola, Iowa, native allowed four runs on six hits while fanning four batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini fell behind early as an RBI triple plated the first run of the contest in the opening frame.
Trailing 1-0, Stevie Meade began the second with a leadoff single. Paige Berkmeyer executed a sacrifice bunt and a pair of errors on the play allowed the runner to score on the play, tying the game.
South Carolina broke up the stalemate in the bottom of the inning, tacking on two runs to hold the 3-1 advantage. The opposition plated another run in the fourth, extending its three-run lead.
Despite back-to-back scoreless innings for Sickels in the circle, Illinois was unable to score, closing out the 4-1 defeat.
The Illini return to action with its tournament finale against Columbia on Sunday morning. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m. CT.
GAME NOTES.
» The Illini wore orange jerseys, moving to 4-1 while wearing those.
» The Fighting Illini moved to 0-3 against teams from the SEC.
» Illinois was held to one run, just the third time this year the Illini were held to one run or less.
» The four strikeouts for Sickels were a season low when the pitcher tosses a complete game
