URBANA, Ill. — Illinois softball (8-18, 0-3 Big Ten) fell to Iowa in a pair of games to conclude its Big Ten-opening series on Saturday at Eichelberger Field, 7-1, and 2-0.
GAME ONE
The Hawkeyes plated two in the first frame, as Devin Simon was hit by pitch and Tory Bennett singled to start the inning. A triple from Kiara Sipe scored them both, but Karley Yergler added two strikeouts to end the inning.
A pair of walks and a two-RBI double from Sipe brought across two more for Iowa in the fourth. The Hawkeyes added another pair of runs in the fifth, including a home run from Leah McAnally.
Ava Moore started the sixth frame with a base hit and stole second, advancing to third after a groundout from Skylar Brennan. Adisyn Caryl logged an RBI single to score Moore and plate the lone run of the day for Illinois.
Iowa added one final run in the seventh on an RBI single from Chavez, to finish its 7-1 win.
GAME TWO
The sole pair of runs came in the top of the sixth for Iowa, as Avery Jackson hit a solo home run to start the inning. Simon doubled and Sipe scored her with an RBI single to center field. Neither side would plate any additional runs, with Iowa taking the 2-0 victory.
NOTES
- Karley Yergler pitched two complete games on the day, conceding eight earned runs in 14 innings of work, and notching eight strikeouts.
- Yergler falls to 2-6 on the season.
- Eileen Donahue went 2-for-2 at the plate in game one, her third multi-hit game of 2026.
- Ava Moore went 1-for-3 in both contests, with hits in three of her last four starts
- Skylar Brennan was 1-for-3 in game one, and 2-for-3 in game two, extending her reached base streak to 12 games.
- Brennan's two hits in game two mark her eighth multi-hit outing of the year.
UP NEXT
Illinois return to Eichelberger Field on Wednesday, March 18, for a doubleheader against rival Missouri, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to wear orange. Both games can be streamed on B1G+.
