Fighting Illini Shine at The Marucci Classic

RALEIGH, N.C. – Illinois saw a successful Saturday at The Marucci Classic as the Fighting Illini topped Central Michigan, 4-1, and Northern Colorado, 12-4. 

The Fighting Illini improved to 7-5 on the year with the two victories. CMU dropped to 1-6 while the Bears moved to 3-9 this season.

GAME ONE

Illinois softball earned the 4-1 win over Central Michigan at The Marucci Classic on Saturday.

Megan Nuechterlein went the distance, allowing one run on four hits while recording five strikeouts during her first complete game in an Illini jersey.

The Orange and Blue were led by Adisyn Caryl, who went 1-for-3 with a home run. Keirys Click posted a 1-for-3 day at the plate with two RBI.

How It Happened

After two scoreless innings to start the game, Illinois got on the board with Lizzie Stiverson successfully stealing home after coming in to pinch run for Paige Berkmeyer. Caryl continued the rally with a solo homer, extending the 2-0 advantage. 

In the following frame, Yazzy Avila posted a leadoff double. The Texas native came home following a sac bunt by Alaina Miller and an error by the CMU defense.

Hanging on to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Central Michigan tallied a solo homer to cut into the Ilini advantage. However, Nuechterlein fanned a pair of batters to end the inning.

Illinois took back the momentum in the seventh with a single and a walk to start the frame. Click added a sac fly, scoring Ava Moore on the play and putting the Orange and Blue ahead, 4-1.

Nuechterlein took down the Chippewas in order to close out the seventh, earning the Fighting Illini the victory.

Notes

» Illinois wore navy jerseys, moving to 2-1 while donning those.
» Nuecterlein previously faced Central Michigan while at Kent State.
» Illinois owns a 6-1 record against Central Michigan.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Chippewas at an 8-4 clip.
» Berkmeyer caught her third runner stealing this season and 37^th of her career. 
» Berkmeyer moved to third place all-time for runners caught stealing, sharing the spot with Steph Abello.
 

GAME TWO

Illinois continued its dominant day with a six-inning triumph ove Northern Coloardo, 12-4

Danika Frazier earned the start for Illinois, tossing 3.0 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. Lauren Wiles got the win, moving to 4-1 on the year as she threw 3.0 innings and fanned three batters.

Yazzy Avila's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-3 day, and included a double, a home run and two RBI. Eileen Donahue made her contribution with a double, a home run and four RBI, part of a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.Ava Moore also contributed for the Fighting Illini, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI.

How It Happened

The Orange and Blue jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first as Donahue sent a ball over the fence.

Northern Colorado chipped away at the Illini advantage, scoring a run in the first and second frames. After a scoreless third by both teams, Northern Colorado tacked on a pair in the fourth, putting the Fighting Illini behind, 4-3.

Back-to-back home runs off the bats of Moore and Avila pushed Illinois ahead, 5-4 in the top of the fifth. 

In the following frame, Moore added an RBI single, and another run came across on the following play, continuing the scoring rally. Avila sent a double to right center, scoring Moore on the play to extend the 8-4 edge. Alaina Miller's single through the right side added to the five-run advantage.

Northern Colorado made a pitching change, but that did not stall the Illini offense. A single by Paige Berkmeyer and a double from Donahue added to the Orange and Blue's 11-4 lead. An error by the Bears tacked on the final run of the frame for Illinois.

The run support would be enough to shorten the game and Wiles struck out the final Bear batter to seal the six-inning victory.

Up Next

Illinois finishes the weekend with a game against The Marucci Classic host NC State on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m. on ESPN+.

Notes

» Illinois wore navy jerseys, moving to 3-1 while donning those.
» Moore and Avila hit their first career home runs.
» Five Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Illinois went 6-for-9 (.667) with runners in scoring position.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Bears at a 12-9 clip.
» Illinois posted three home runs in the ballgame.
» The Orange and Blue improve to 1-0 against Northern Colorado.