URBANA, Ill. — Illinois softball (14-36, 3-17 Big Ten), fell to Penn State in the series finale, 10-3, on Sunday afternoon at Eichelberger Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Danika Frazier struck out Kaylie Walters to start the game, but Breanna Hanik followed with a base hit to the left side. Hanik advanced to second on a groundout and came around to score with an RBI single from Brooke Klosowicz.
The second and third frames passed scoreless, with no additional hits for either side.
In the fourth, Penn State catcher Macy Chamberlin reached on an error, and a base hit up the middle from Gabby Gradishar advanced Chamberlin all the way to third. An Illinois wild pitch scored pinch runner Kalli Karwowski.
Michela Barbanente scored Gradishar with an RBI double, and a three-score home run from pinch hitter Jordan George extended Penn State's lead to five runs.
In the bottom of the frame, Eileen Donahue launched a solo home run to left field for the Fighting Illini's first hit and first run of the day. Keirys Click was then hit by pitch and Gabrielle Debevec tallied a base hit down to the left field line, after entering in the top of the inning at second base. Illinois could not capitalize on the traction, leaving two runners on base.
Relief pitcher Megan Nuechterlein recorded a scoreless fifth, secured by a great throw from Alaina Miller to Click at home plate for the final out.
Hanik posted a three-RBI home run in the sixth, after base hits from Barbanente and Walters, and Chamberlin tallied a solo shot, increasing the Penn State lead once again, to nine runs.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ellie Haggard got things started with a base hit, and Click proceeded to score pinch runner Fae Cornish with an RBI double. Debevec then singled down the right field line to score Click, for the Fighting Illini's third and final run of the day.
The seventh frame passed scoreless, and Penn State took the 10-3 victory in game three.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Eileen Donahue led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, her 13th home run of the season and 24thof her career.
- The home run also moves her into a tie for ninth in Illinois single-season history, alongside Jenna Hall (2006) and Stephyn Abello (2017).
- Gabrielle Debevec was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, after entering at second base in the top of the fourth inning.
- The game is her second multi-hit outing of the season, with the other being February 8 at LSU.
- Danika Frazier took the start in the circle for the second time this weekend, throwing 3.1 frames.
- Frazier conceded five earned runs, three walks, and tallied two strikeouts.
- Her 17 strikeouts so far this season surpasses her total of 16 from 2025.
- Megan Nuechterlein entered in relief in the circle, hurling 1.2 innings and conceding three earned runs, before exiting in favor of Abby Sabalaskey.
- Left-hander Sabalaskey threw the final two innings, conceding one earned run and posting two strikeouts.
- Keirys Click was 1-for-3 at the plate, her lone hit an RBI double.
- Click was hit by pitch for the 11th time this season, moving her into a tie for seventh in Illinois single-season history, alongside Yazzy Avila (2025), and Jess Perkins (2013).
- The double was Click's seventh this season, second-most on the squad.
- Ellie Haggard was 1-for-3 at the plate along with a walk, extending her reached base streak to four games.
- Brooke Stang was 1-for-2 at the plate in her tenth start of the season, her third conference outing with a hit.
UP NEXT
Illinois hosts Valparaiso for its final home game of the season on Wednesday, April 29, at 5 p.m. CT, before traveling to Indiana for its final conference series, May 1-3. All four remaining games can be streamed on B1G+.
