CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini softball split its Big Ten doubleheader against Wisconsin on Saturday, Illinois won its first game of the day, 9-6, before dropping the series finale, 8-6.
The Fighting Illini moved to 13-11 overall and 1-2 in league play while the Badgers concluded the series with a 17-9 mark and a 2-1 conference record.
GAME ONE
Lauren Wiles got the start in the circle and earned the win to move to 6-3 this season. Offensively, Ella Cushing, Adisyn Caryl, Stevie Meade and Yazzy Avila each had a home run in the game.
How It Happened
Wisconsin jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after scoring in the opening frame.
Both teams went scoreless in the second, but the Fighting Illini rallied in the third, beginning with a solo homer from the bat of Avila. An RBI double from Donahue and a two RBI shot by Paige Berkmeyer extended the Orange and Blue advantage in the frame.
The Illini scoring did not stop there with Cushing crushing a home run to start the fourth. Caryl and Meade also added long balls during the inning, extending the 9-1 edge.
The Badgers scored runs in the final three innings, but Illinois held on, taking down Wisconsin, 9-6.
Notes
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, moving to 4-3 while donning those.
» The four home runs and 16 hits were the most by the Illini squad this season for a single game.
» Six Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Illinois went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois got three-hit games from three different hitters.
» Illinois is now 34-23 all-time against the Badgers.
» The Fighting Illini had a total of 16 hits.
GAME TWO
Karley Yergler earned the start, but Megan Nuechterlein took the loss, falling to 2-3 during her sophomore campaign. Stevie Meade added her second home run of the day during the loss.
How It Happened
The Badgers held an early 4-0 lead following the top of the second.
Gabrielle Debevec knocked a single to the wall in right center, scoring a pair to cut the deficit in half. In the following frame. Paige Berkmeyer's sac fly to center tacked on another Orange and Blue score.
Trailing 5-3 in the fifth following another run by the Badgers, a two-run dinger from Meade locked the game, 5-5.
The tie ballgame was short lived with the Badgers earning the 8-5 edge in the top of the sixth. The Illini bats went quiet in the sixth and despite adding a run in the seventh, the Orange and Blue dropped the game 8-6.
Up Next
Illinois travels to Missouri for a Tuesday tilt. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Notes
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, moving to 4-4 while donning those.
» Illinois is now 34-24 all-time against the Badgers.
» The Orange and Blue have lost their first conference series of the season for a third-straight year.
» The Fighting Illini own a 4-2 record at Eichelberger Field this season.
