Box Score MINNEAPOLIS — Illinois softball (8-25, 0-7 Big Ten) fell to Minnesota on Friday afternoon, 5-2, in game one of its first conference road series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Karley Yergler notched a strikeout to hold the opening frame scoreless, but after an error in the second frame, the Gophers were able to plate the first pair of runs, including a sacrifice fly from Tinley Easton.
The third frame passed without a run, before Easton launched a three-score home run in the fourth inning, at which point Danika Frazier entered in relief.
In the top of the seventh, Keirys Click launched a solo home run to left field, putting the first run on the board for Illinois. After pinch hitter Ella Cushing reached on a fielder's choice, shortstop Ava Moore re-entered, advancing to second on a single from Gabrielle Debevec, and scoring after Skylar Brennan put the ball in play. Brennan was tagged out and Illinois' comeback was cut short, with Minnesota taking the victory, 5-2.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Karley Yergler got the start in the circle, her 15th of the season, tallying one strikeout and conceding three earned runs in 3.1 innings of work.
- Danika Frazier entered in relief, throwing 2.2 scoreless frames and conceding just one walk.
- Alaina Miller was 1-for-2 at the plate, notching her third hit in Illinois' last four games and also extending her reached base streak to four games.
- Keirys Click was 1-for-3 at the plate with a home run, her fifth this season and ninth of her career.
- Pinch hitter Gabrielle Debevec was a perfect 1-for-1 at the plate, recording a base hit in the final frame to advance Moore into scoring position.
- The hit was Debevec's sixth this season, and first in conference play.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns to action in Minneapolis, tomorrow, March 28, at 1 p.m. CT, for the second outing of the three-game series against the Gophers. The game can be streamed on B1G+.
