URBANA, Ill. — Illinois softball (8-22, 0-5 B1G) fell to Northwestern, 19-5 (5 inn.), on Saturday afternoon, in game two of its second Big Ten series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northwestern exploded for a 12-run first frame, with a three-score home run from Kansas Robinson, followed by a solo shot from Bridget Donahey. Tru Medina, Grace Nieto, Emma Raye, and Kelsey Nader all logged doubles to build on the lead, aided by a pair of Illinois errors.
In the bottom of the first frame, Illinois responded, led off by a base hit from Skylar Brennan. Keirys Click reached on an error, and Adisyn Caryl brought them both around to score with a three-run homer. Eileen Donahue immediately followed with a solo home run of her own, cutting the deficit to eight runs.
A three-run homer from Raye increased the Wildcats' lead once again in the second inning, and Donahey added a second solo home run in the third. A three-RBI double from Abby Harvey capped off Northwestern's scoring at 19 runs.
The Illini got one back after a base hit from Caryl, a walk for Donahue, and another single from Ellie Haggard loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Ella Cushing brought the final run into score after she was hit by pitch.
Northwestern took the win, 19-5, with starting pitcher Abby Sabalaskey falling to 5-8.
NOTES
- Skylar Brennan went 2-for-3 at the plate, her ninth multi-hit outing of the year
- Her second-inning double was her eighth of the season
- Adisyn Caryl also went 2-for-3 at the plate, adding her fourth home run of the season and driving in three RBI, for her tenth multi-hit game of the season
- The home run is Caryl's first in Big Ten play this year and 12th of her career
- Eileen Donahue notched her sixth home run of the year, and third of conference play
- She now owns 17 home runs across her career
- Keirys Click has now been hit by pitch a team-high seven times. The Illinois single-season record is 14 HBP, set by Kelley Wedel in 2001.
UP NEXT
Illinois will finish its second Big Ten home series against Northwestern at noon CT on Sunday, March 22. Admission is free for all fans, and the game can be streamed on B1G+.
