Illinois Softball Drops Two at #8/8 Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. — The Illinois softball team fell twice Saturday to #8/8 Oregon at Jane Sanders Stadium. The Ducks won by scores of 9-1 and 14-0 ahead of Sunday's series finale. 

Illinois dropped to 13-14 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten. Oregon improved to 28-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. 

Game 1 of the series was suspended in the third inning Friday night due to rain with Oregon leading 6-0. The teams finished the opener at noon local time Saturday, with Oregon taking a 9-1 win in five innings, before playing Game 2. 

Freshman Ellie Haggard provided the highlight of the series-opening suspended game, a solo homer to left field while battling a two-strike count in the fifth inning. It was the first home run of Haggard's collegiate career. 

Oregon blanked Illinois, 14-0, in five innings in Saturday's second game. Freshman Keirys Click had a hit and a walk. 

The two teams are back at Jane Sanders Stadium on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT for the final game of the three-game series. Sunday's game does not count towards the Big Ten standings.