URBANA, Ill. -- Illinois softball took down the Northern Illinois Huskies, 9-2, at Eichelberger Field on Wednesday.
The Orange and Blue improved to 20-23 this season while NIU fell to 14-28.
Karley Yergler got the win as the right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out one. Freshman Danika Frazier also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit and fanning one.
Ella Cushing went 2-for-3 with a home run in addition to her four RBI for the Fighting Illini.  Adisyn Caryl put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Eileen Donahue also chipped in for Illinois, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois saw an RBI single from Donahue, scoring junior Stevie Meade from third base, for the first run of the day in the opening frame.
The Fighting Illini kept the Huskies off the board before taking the lead in the third when the Illinois offense exploded for four runs. The inning was highlighted by Cushing's RBI single, scoring the go-ahead run
Illinois held Northern Illinois without a run before building the lead to 7-2 the following inning. Cushing continued to impress with a home run in the frame to extend the Illini advantage.Â
The Fighting Illini scored two runs off of Northern Illinois in the sixth punctuated by a run-scoring double off the bat of Caryl, bringing the score to 9-2 in favor of Illinois. The score remained 9-2 for the rest of the game, as the Fighting Illini triumphed in the midweek clash.
GAME NOTES
» Five Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Huskies at a 12-6 clip.
» Illinois went 7-for-11 (.636) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers limited Northern Illinois to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
