URBANA, Ill. – Illinois softball fell in extra innings to Northern Iowa, 7-6, at Eichelberger Field on Tuesday.
With the loss, Illinois moved to 13-16. Northern Iowa improved to 18-8 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini got on the scoreboard first, starting in the third inning. Freshman Ella Cushing's RBI single highlighted a two-run inning for Illinois.
The Illini advantage dwindled in the third, but the team rallied in the fourth with Yazzy Avila coming across to score the lone run of the inning, leaving the team behind 4-3.
Northern Iowa expanded its lead, 6-3, before the Illinois offense got back to work, reducing that Panther edge to 6-5 in the sixth. The Fighting Illini pushed two runs across on a two-run double from Gabrielle Debevec, scoring Alaina Miller and Ellie Haggard on the play.
Illinois kept the Panthers off the board before tying it up in the seventh. The Fighting Illini scored once on an RBI single from Adisyn Caryl, tying the score at 6-6.Â
However, Northern Iowa added the final run in the top of the eighth, closing out the extra inning loss for the Illini
GAME NOTES
» Every Fighting Illini starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Five Illinois hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Illinois left 13 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Panthers at an 11-8 clip.
» Illinois wore orange jerseys, posting a 4-6 record while donning those.
