LINCOLN, Neb. – Illinois softball fell to Nebraska in eight innings, 5-4, in its Big Ten opener at Bowlin Stadium on Friday night.
Illinois dropped to 12-14 on the year while Nebraska improved to 17-13. The game was the first league contest for both squads.
Paige Berkmeyer led the Fighting Illini at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Kelly Ryono went 1-for-4 in the game with a home run and two RBI. In the circle, Tori McQueen went the distance, striking out five during her 7.1 innings of work.
How it happened
The Fighting Illini fell behind early with a leadoff homer putting the Orange and Blue behind heading into the second.
Both teams went scoreless until the sixth when the Illini's rally began with a leadoff walk with Serena Starks at the plate. Ryono's sixth homer of the year was a no-doubter over the left field wall, giving Illinois the 2-1 edge. A hit batter, a single and a passed ball put a pair of runners into scoring position. Berkmeyer sent a blooper into left field scored Stevie Meade from third, giving Illinois the 3-1 edge.
In the bottom of the seventh, a two-run homer by the opposition locked the game at three, sending the game into extra innings.
Berkmeyer's third home run of the season hit the foul pole on left field, giving Illinois the 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth. However, back-to-back hits, an RBI double and an RBI single, squashed the Illini's hopes, handing the Fighting Illini the 5-4 loss.
Up Next
Illinois faces Nebraska in the second game of the Big Ten series at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can catch the action from Bowlin Stadium on B1G+.
Notes
» Illinois wore navy jerseys, moving to 5-3 while donning those.
» The Illini moved to 12-20 all-time against Nebraska.
» Ryono extended her reached base streak to 12 games.
» Megan Ward extended her hitting streak to seven games.
» Illinois dropped to 1-1 in extra inning games.
» The Illini dropped to 0-2 in televised games.
