BATON ROUGE, La. – Illinois softball continued its run at the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park on Saturday. The Illini fell to Louisiana Tech, 4-2, before shutting out McNeese, 3-0.
GAME ONE
The Fighting Illini dropped its rematch against Louisiana Tech, 4-2, in a seven-inning affair at Tiger Park on Saturday morning.
Illinois moved to 4-8 on the year with the loss, while LA Tech improved to 10-3.
Abby Ryniec racked up three hits and added an RBI for the Illini. Stevie Meade compiled a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
How it happened
LA Tech struck first in the top of the third, scoring a run off a single up the middle.
The Bulldog advantage did not last long, however, as Yazzy Avila starting the bottom half of the inning with a single of her own. Kelly Ryono was given a base on balls to put two on for the Illini before an RBI single from Ryniec knotted the game at a run apiece.
After a scoreless fourth for both teams, the Bulldogs retook the lead in the fifth, tallying a pair of runs and putting the Orange and Blue behind, 3-1. The opposition tacked on another run in the following frame, sending the Illini to the bottom of the sixth down, 4-1.
The Fighting Illini had its chance in the sixth, loading the bases following singles from Ryniec, Adisyn Caryl and Eileen Donahue. However, a flyout to left field squashed the team's chances in the frame.
Down to their final three outs, the Illini began the inning with a single from Ryono. Meade brought the runner home with an RBI single of her own, cutting the LA Tech advantage to just a pair. Despite the late rally, the deficit proved to be too much to overcome, with Illinois dropping the contest, 4-2.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore navy jerseys, moving to 1-2 while donning those.
» Stevie Meade and Megan Ward extended their four-game hitting streak.
» Meade extended her six-game reached-base streak
» The Illini dropped to 1-2 all-time against the Bulldogs.
» Illinois pitchers limited Louisiana Tech to just 2-for-16 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
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GAME TWO
Tori McQueen went the distance as the Illini topped McNeese, 3-0, in their second game of the day.
Illinois improved to 5-8 on the year with the triumph over the Cowgirls, while McNeese dropped to 12-5.
The lefty tossed a seven-inning complete game and allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out 12 batters. Offensively, Sydney Malott went 1-for-3 on the day with a double.
How it Happened
The Illini engaged in a back-and-forth battle from the jump, with McQueen tallying six strikeouts in the first four frames. In the bottom of the fourth, the Illini loaded the bases thanks to a double, an error and a walk. With no outs, Paige Berkmeyer sent a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring the first run of the game.
Following a scoreless sixth, the team recorded a pair of singles with one out on the board. An error scored the first run of the inning before a fielder's choice plated the second, giving Illinois the 3-0 edge.
With McQueen looking for her third complete game of the weekend and the first shutout of her senior campaign, the southpaw struck out a pair in the final frame to secure the 3-0 victory.
Up Next
Illinois closes out the Purple and Gold Challenge with a game against San Diego State at Tiger Park on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
Notes
» Illinois wore navy jerseys, moving to 2-2 while donning those.
» The Illini moved to 4-0 all-time against McNeese.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Cowgirls at a 5-4 clip.
» Megan Ward extended her hitting streak to five games.
» McQueen struck out a season-high 12 batters.
» The southpaw limited McNeese to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
