URBANA, Ill. --Eileen Donahue recorded her first collegiate grand slam to help propel the Fighting Illini past the Michigan State, 12-4, in five innings on Friday.
Illinois improved to 16-19 overall and 3-7 in Big Ten play. MSU fell to 12-21 this year and 2-9 in league play
Megan Nuechterlein (3-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Illinois. The right-hander went five innings, giving up four runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.
Donahue went 1-for-3 in addition to her four RBI for the Fighting Illini. Stevie Meade put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI. Keirys Click also helped out for Illinois, putting together one hit in one trip to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Fighting Illini first put runs on the board in the second inning as Meade and Click went yard in the inning on the way to scoring four runs.
The Spartans failed to push any runs across before the Fighting Illini offense got back to their scoring ways the following frame. Illinois pushed across two runs, bringing the score to 6-1 in favor of the Illini.
Michigan State narrowed Illinois' lead to 6-4 before the Orange and Blue fought back. The Fighting Illini bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a grand slam off the bat of Donahue to end the triumph.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore pink jerseys for the first time.
» Illinois hitters hit three homers in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Spartans at an 8-4 clip.
» The Illini drew five walks from Michigan State pitching.
