COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Illinois softball topped Maryland, 4-3, to even the Big Ten series on Saturday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Stadium.
With the win, the Fighting Illini moved to 14-20 this season and 1-6 in conference play. The Terrapins improved to 17-18 this year with a 4-4 league mark.
Tori McQueen got the win, moving to 7-9 this year. The southpaw went six innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits while allowing one walk and striking out five. Lauren Wiles came in and tossed one inning in relief. Offensively, Stevie Meade went 3-for-3 in the game with a home run and a pair of doubles. Paige Berkmeyer went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
How it happened
The Illini struck first in the opening frame, with Meade securing her third homer this season to give Illinois the slight 1-0 edge.
The advantage was short-lived, with the Terps tying the game in the bottom of the first with a solo blast.
A pair of scoreless frames followed for both squads, but Maryland tacked on a run in the fourth to take hold of a one-run advantage.
Illinois began the top of the fifth with a single and a double, putting a pair of runners into scoring position. Berkmeyer sent a single up the middle, clearing the bases and giving Illinois the 3-2 lead. Gabrielle Debevec tallied an RBI single of her own in the frame, extending the 4-2 advantage.
Maryland gained one back in the bottom of the fifth, but scoreless efforts in the circle by Wiles in the sixth and McQueen in the seventh secured the 4-3 victory.
Up Next
Illinois completes the series at Maryland on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CT on B1G+.
Notes
» Illinois wore white jerseys, moving to 2-5 while donning those.
» The Illini moved to 11-7 all-time against Maryland.
» The Illini drew four walks from Maryland pitching.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Terrapins at a 10-7 clip.
» Illinois pitchers limited Maryland to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Paige Berkmeyer caught her 10th runner stealing this season.
