URBANA, Ill. – A midweek clash at Eichelberger Field favored Southern Illinois as Illinois softball dropped the contest, 6-1.
With the loss, the Fighting Illini moved to 15-22 this year. The Salukis improved to 27-8 this season.
Tori McQueen started in the circle and took the loss as the southpaw tossed 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four. Offensively, Abby Ryniec went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI single. Adisyn Caryl put together a 2-for-3 day, while Megan Ward went 1-for-3 at the dish with a run scored.
How it happened
Both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, but a two-run blast by the Salukis broke open the game. SIU tacked on another run in the fourth, putting the Illini behind by three heading to the bottom of the frame.
Illinois charged back in the fourth after Ward and Caryl reached on back-to-back singles. Ryniec drove in Ward with an RBI single, scoring the Orange and Blue's first run of the game.
SIU added three runs in the fifth, gaining the 6-1 advantage. Despite holding the Salukis scoreless in the final two frames, Illinois was unable to push any more runs across the dish, dropping the in-state clash.
Up Next
Illinois hosts Purdue at Eichelberger Field this weekend. Friday's first pitch is slated for 5 p.m. on B1G+.
Notes
» Illinois wore white jerseys, moving to 2-6 while donning those.
» The Illini moved to 10-2 all-time against SIU.
» Illinois dropped to 1-8 at home.
» Paige Berkmeyer caught her 13th runner stealing, tied for eighth all-time in the Illini record books for a single season.
» Attendance was called at 123.
