URBANA, Ill. — Illinois softball (11-28, 2-9 Big Ten) defeated Western Illinois in five innings, 8-0, on Tuesday night at Eichelberger Field.
Junior Megan Nuechterlein got the nod in the circle for the second consecutive game, also picking up her second consecutive win, and improving to 2-4. In her third career start, true freshman Brooke Stang went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in two RBI. Ellie Haggard was also 2-for-3 with two RBI, adding her ninth home run of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite picking up three hits in the top of the first, the Leathernecks were held scoreless by Nuechterlein and the Illinois defense. Eileen Donahue reached on a walk in the bottom of the inning, but Western Illinois kept the Fighting Illini off the board in the opening inning.
Illinois broke open the scoring in the second frame, led off by a walk from freshman Ady Kiddy. Base hits from Brooke Stang, Ava Moore, Alaina Miller, and Adisyn Caryl, along with a walk for Keirys Click, earned Illinois three runs, and Click scored the fourth with heads-up base running on a stolen base attempt at second.
The third and fourth innings passed scoreless for both sides, but the Fighting Illini earned the victory in the fifth. Donahue singled to center field, and Ellie Haggard notched a two-score home run behind her, increasing the Illinois lead to six runs.
After Haggard's home run, Kiddy and Taylor Porter tallied base hits, and Stang ended the game with a double to center field, driving in two RBI to seal the Illinois run-rule victory, 8-0.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Junior right-hander Megan Nuechterlein got the nod in the circle for the second consecutive game, also picking up her second consecutive win.
- The five-inning victory moves her to 2-4 on the year, and marks her first complete game of the season.
- She tallied one strikeout and walked just one batter.
- Nuechterlein's season ERA improves to 5.66.
- True freshman Brooke Stang made her third start of the season, going 2-for-3 at the plate, and driving in the first pair of RBI in her career.
- Stang tallied her first career extra-base hit to walk off the game in the fifth inning.
- The victory is also the first multi-hit outing of Stang's career.
- Ellie Haggard was also 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, including her ninth home run of the season.
- Haggard's nine home runs lead the team.
- Taylor Porter made her first start since February 8 at LSU, going 1-for-2 at the plate and scoring one run.
- Porter now owns two hits and two runs on the year.
- Adisyn Caryl was 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, extending her current reached base streak to six games.
- Alaina Miller was 1-for-2 at the plate and drove in a pair of RBI, her first multi-RBI game of the year.
UP NEXT
Following the midweek battle, Illinois hosts No. 8/10 UCLA, the first conference series between the sides, and first meeting at Eichelberger Field. First pitch times are set for 5 p.m. CT on Friday, 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, and noon CT on Sunday. All three games can be streamed on B1G+.
