Box Score BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Illinois softball (15-39, 3-20 Big Ten) closed its 2026 season with a 7-3 loss at Indiana. Taylor Porter earned her first collegiate home run in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Aly VanBrandt quickly opened the scoring with a solo home run to center field and a three-RBI home run from Jose Bird added to Indiana's lead. Madelyn Strader came across for the fifth run of the frame on a wild pitch.
Relief pitcher Abby Sabalaskey retired the side in order in the second inning, and Ava Moore led off the third frame with a triple to right field. Alaina Miller brought her around with an RBI groundout. Despite a single from Skylar Brennan the frame ended before the Fighting Illini could score any additional runs.
Indiana plated one run in the fourth, an RBI ground out from VanBrandt to score Ellie Goins, who was hit by pitch to reach base, and advanced into scoring position on a double from Brooke Mannon. The Hoosiers also added one run in the fifth, an RBI single from Goins.
In the sixth, Eileen Donahue and Ellie Haggard recorded consecutive base hits to left field and Keirys Click was hit by pitch, but a double play ended the frame before any runs scored.
To start the final frame, Brooke Stang sent a base hit to left, and Taylor Porter, who entered to play center field, earned a two-RBI home run, cutting the deficit to four runs. The final two outs were recorded in succession and Indiana took the victory, 7-3.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Taylor Porter was a perfect 1-for-1 at the plate, with a two-RBI home run, the first pair of RBI and first home run of her collegiate career.
- Ava Moore was 1-for-2 at the plate and scored the first run of the day.
- The triple was her second this season and fourth of her career.
- Moore finishes the season having started all 54 games at shortstop, with 24 hits and five RBI.
- Skylar Brennan was 1-for-3 at the plate, finishing as the team leader with 50 hits on the season.
- Keirys Click was a perfect 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk and a hit by pitch.
- Click was hit by pitch for the 12th time this season, moving her into sole possession of seventh on the single season list.
- Eileen Donahue was 1-for-3 at the plate, notching her 40th hit of the year.
- Ellie Haggard was 1-for-3 at the plate, extending her season-best reached base streak and hitting streak to seven games.
- Abby Sabalaskey entered in relief, hurling the final six frames and conceding three runs on five hits.
