EUGENE, Ore. — The Illinois softball team dropped a 4-3 decision to #8/8 Oregon at Jane Sanders Stadium on Sunday in the in the finale of a three-game series. The Fighting Illini fought to tie the score 3-3 in the sixth inning, before the Ducks won it in the seventh.
Illinois dropped to 13-15 overall, while Oregon improved to 29-3. The game did not count towards the Big Ten standings.Â
Freshmen Ella Cushing and Ellie Haggard and sophomore Adisyn Caryl all had three hits to fuel the Illini offense. Haggard started the scoring with a double in the second inning that scored a run on an Oregon error, then hit her second home run of the weekend — and second of her Illini career — to tie the score at 3-3 in the sixth.Â
Caryl singled to start the seventh inning, as Illinois looked to rally for the go-ahead run in the final frame. Pinch runner Zoie Howard advanced to second on a ground out, before being stranded and keeping the score tied 3-3.
In the circle, junior Karley Yergler worked 6.0 innings while allowing four runs on eight hits. The Parkland transfer kept the Illini fighting to the final out, but ultimately dropped her record to 4-3 on the season.Â
Oregon's Braiesey Rosa won the game for the Ducks with a walk-off homer to leadoff the seventh inning.Â
Illinois is back in action Tuesday at Eichelberger Field against Northern Iowa at 5 p.m. CT. The matchup starts a four-game homestand for the Illini.Â
