AUBURN, Ala. — Illinois softball (2-6, 0-0 B1G) wrapped its second day at the War Eagle Classic on Friday afternoon, defeating Binghamton in decisive fashion, 11-5, before also taking down Campbell, 2-1.
Game One
How It Happened
Starting pitcher Karley Yergler dealt a pair of scoreless innings, along with three strikeouts, before the Illini opened the scoring in the third frame.
Ava Moore, Alaina Miller, and Skylar Brennan notched consecutive singles to load the bases, and a two-RBI double for freshman Ady Kiddy earned the Orange and Blue its first runs of the day. Then, Delaney Mosley reached safely on a fielder's choice, and an error from the Bearcats brought Kiddy and Brennan around for two more.
Emilia Podeswza notched a solo home run to get one back for Binghamton, but Christina Crawford recorded two quick outs to end the third.
In the fourth, Moore worked a walk and an RBI double from Brennan, her second hit of the day, extended the advantage to four runs for the Illini.
The Bearcats pulled within one run in the bottom of the inning, with doubles from Lauren Payne and Elisa Allen, capped off with a two-score home run from Maddy Dodig.
The Orange and Blue added insurance in the fifth, with a pair of hits from Moore and Adisyn Caryl, along with a trio of Binghamton errors, allowing five total runs to score.
With lefty Abby Sabalaskey in the circle, the Bearcats were held scoreless for the final two innings. Illinois tallied one final run in its final inning, propelled by a third hit from Brennan, a walk for Kiddy, and base hits from Ellie Haggard and Taylor Porter.
Illinois earned the 11-5 victory, finishing with 12 hits and no errors.
Postgame Notes
- True freshman Ady Kiddy earned her first career hit, a two-RBI double, in her first career start
- Illinois logged three doubles, its first game this season with three or more, and fourth game this season with two or more as a team
- The Illini notched double-digit runs for the first time this season, and first time since defeating Michigan State 12-4 in 5 innings on April 12, 2025
- Brennan added her first three-hit outing and third multi-hit outing as an Illini, leading the team with 10 hits on the young season
- Keirys Click added her first multi-hit outing of the season, and ninth of her career
- Ava Moore logged her second multi-hit game of the year, and fifth of her career, including her first RBI of 2026
- Crawford earned her first win of the year and Sabalaskey her first save
Game Two
Megan Nuechterlein got the nod in the circle, throwing two scoreless innings to open the game and adding three strikeouts, before exiting in favor of Abby Sabalaskey. Sabalaskey allowed just two hits and no runs in 2.1 innings of work, and Karley Yergler secured the final three outs in relief for the Illini.
How It Happened
The Illini were on the board first for the second consecutive game. Ady Kiddy and Ellie Haggard registered base hits, and Kiddy was able to steal home as Haggard stole second.
Ella Cushing and Kiddy logged hits in the second and third innings, respectively, but both were left on base.
Campbell evened the game in the third, with a sacrifice fly from Amber DeSena to score Haley Krebs.
Neither side added another run until the top of the sixth, when an RBI double from Haggard gave the Orange and Blue a one-run advantage.
Despite a seventh-inning double from Alliyah Swiney and a pair of walks for the Camels, Illinois hung on for the 2-1 win, including a pivotal out at home thrown from Kiddy to catcher Keirys Click.
Postgame Notes
- Ady Kiddy posted her first career multi-hit game
- Kiddy also leads the team in stolen bases in a game and for the season, going 2-for-2 against the Camels
- Against Campbell, Ellie Haggard extended her streak to six consecutive games with a hit, and logged her second multi-hit outing on the year
- Abby Sabalaskey notched the win in the circle, the first of her collegiate career
- Karley Yergler's save is the second of her Illinois career
- The last time the Illini earned just one RBI and won was April 6, 2024, in a 2-1 victory over Northwestern
Next Up
Illinois concludes its War Eagle Classic on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a rematch against Campbell at 9 a.m., and a final game against Bradley at 11:30 a.m.
