PISCATAWAY, N.J. - In the Easter Sunday series finale, the Fighting Illini softball team secured their second-straight series sweep and tenth-straight victory, defeating Rutgers 9-1 at Rutgers Softball Complex.
Illinois (26-13, 9-2 B1G) was led at the plate by junior Delaney Rummell, who went 2-for-4 with her second grand slam of the season in the third, also her team-leading ninth home run of the season. Redshirt junior Danielle Davis also put in a 2-for-2 effort, including a two-RBI triple in the seventh, while junior Kelly Ryono and sophomore Megan Ward added two hits and an RBI each. Freshman Lauren Wiles pitched a complete game in the circle for the Illini, giving up just one run on three hits and one walk, while striking out seven Scarlet Knights.
"We're playing good softball and growing as a team. We got some big hits with runners in scoring position from the middle of our lineup all weekend and that's the key to big innings and big weekends. We were solid in the circle getting a couple of complete games as well" head coach Tyra Perry said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went down quickly in the first inning, with Illinois going down in order and Rutgers finding a single before a groundout ended the inning. In the second, Ryono led off for the Illini and slapped a solo home run to left field to put the Illini up 1-0 early, while Rutgers went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Illinois got the bats going again in the third inning, with Avrey Steiner reaching base on an error by the shortstop, and back-to-back singles from Ward and Stevie Meade juiced the bases for the Illini. With two outs in the inning, Rummell came to the plate and was able to get a hold of a ball from the pitcher and launched it over the fence in center field for her second grand slam of the season, putting the Illini up 5-0 through three innings after a pair of strikeouts from Wiles in the bottom half of the inning.
Davis led off the fourth with a single to center field, and a Steiner single advanced her to third. Ward was then able to hit a ball through the right side of the infield for a single to score Davis and move the score to 6-0. Rutgers claimed their only run of the day in the bottom half of the fourth, a solo home run to center field, and got a runner into scoring position on a passed ball, but Wiles was able to strand the runner at second with a groundout.
Illinois again threatened in the fifth, loading the bases on back-to-back singles from Rummell and Kailee Powell and a Davis walk, but a double play negated the Illini from adding on to their lead. Rutgers found another baserunner in the sixth, but a beautiful double play that was turned by Rummell, Ward, and Powell got the Illini out of the inning and heading to the final frame holding a 6-1 lead.
The Illini weren't done scoring in the finale, however, as another three runs came across the plate in the seventh. Meade led off the inning with a single, and a Ryono single advanced her to third with Davis coming to the plate. Davis then smoked a ball straight down the left field line that hit off third base and carried into the corner, allowing her to round the bases all the way to third for her second triple of the season, scoring two runs. Gabi Robles, pinch running for Davis, then came to the plate and scored after an errant throw from the Rutgers catcher went into the home teams dugout, pushing the score to 9-1. Wiles then caught two batters looking in the bottom half of the inning, sitting down the Scarlet Knights in order to secure the series sweep and the Easter Sunday victory.
UP NEXT
Illinois is set to play six games in the next seven days, all at Eichelberger Field. On Tuesday (April 19) the Illini will welcome Louisiana-Lafayette to Urbana for a single game set for a 4:00 p.m. CT first pitch. Then, Illinois will welcome Big Ten and No. 8 Northwestern to Eichelberger Field for a Wednesday (April 20) evening doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT. Illinois will wrap up the week with a three-game set against Iowa from Friday to Sunday, April 22-24.
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April 18, 2022 at 05:16AM
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Illini Complete Sweep of Rutgers in Easter Sunday Victory - University of Illinois Athletics - Fighting Illini
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