Illini Softball Suffers Setback at Black and Gold Classic

ORLANDO - Illinois softball dropped a pair of games during the team's second game at the Black and Gold Classic.

The Fighting Illini fell to 1-3 on the year. CSU Bakersfield improved to 2-3 this season while UCF moved to 3-1

GAME ONE 

Illinois fell to CSU Bakersfield, 4-0, in a Saturday rematch.

Danika Frazier got the start in the circle, the first of her career. She took the loss, tossing 4.1 innings while allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout. Megan Nuechterlein and London Park came on in relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED

CSUB drew first blood, scoring a pair in the bottom of the second.

Illinois threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter. However, all three runners were stranded to end the at bat.

The Roadrunners doubled their lead, 4-0, in the bottom of the fifth. With the Orange and Blue looking for momentum, the Illini were silenced in the final frame to complete the shutout. 

NOTES

» Ellie Haggard and London Park made their collegiate debut.
» Zoie Howard led the Fighting Illini at the plate, going 1-for-2.
» The Illini moved to 2-1 against CSU Bakersfield
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, for the first time this season.

GAME TWO

Fighting Illini softball fell to UCF, 2-1, to finish its Saturday slate.

Karley Yergler tossed a complete game, taking the loss. The pitcher allowed two runs on five hits while recording four punch outs. Offensively, Yazzy Avila went 2-for-3 at the dish with a triple.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCF struck first in the opening frame, owning the early 1-0 lead.

Both teams went scoreless through a pair of frames. The Illini had their chance in the top of the fifth with Avila knocking a triple to left field and Stevie Meade recording a walk to put runners on the corners with two away. The rally was short lived with a groundout, squashing the Fighting Illini's hopes in the frame.

UCF extended its advantage, 2-0, in the bottom of the fifth. 

Down to their final three outs, singles by Avila and Eileen Donaue began a rally for the Fighting Illini. With Paige Berkmeyer at the plate, the senior cut the deficit in half with an RBI single. Zoie Howard followed with the fourth single of the inning, but a play at the plate favored the Knights for the final out and Illinois fell, 2-1, to UCF.

UP NEXT

Illinois prepares for a rematch with UCF on Sunday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.

NOTES

» Illinois wore orange jerseys, moving to 0-2.
» The Illini moved to 0-2 all-time versus UCF.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Knights at a 6-5 clip.
» Yergler limited UCF to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.