MINNEAPOLIS — Illinois softball (9-25, 1-7 Big Ten) defeated Minnesota, 14-6, in five innings on Saturday afternoon, picking up its first conference victory and forcing a rubber match tomorrow at noon CT. The Fighting Illini exploded for 16 hits on the day, and Danika Frazier earned the complete-game victory in the circle.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Skylar Brennan reached base in the leadoff spot after being hit by the first pitch of the day. From there Eden Echevarria reached on a fielder's choice, advancing to third after a double to deep center field from Adisyn Caryl. Consecutive base hits from Eileen Donahue and Keirys Click scored Echevarria and Caryl, earning the Fighting Illini an early 2-0 advantage.
Minnesota got one back in the bottom of the frame, on an RBI single from Tara Wolocko.
The Orange and Blue broke the contest open in the second inning with a barrage of runs, started by a pair of base hits from Alaina Miller and Brennan. Echevarria reached on a Minnesota error and Caryl was hit with the bases loaded to bring a third run across. A two-RBI single from Donahue scored Echevarria and Brennan, and Click followed up with an RBI double of her own to bring Donahue home from second base.
The impressive inning was extended by a base hit from Haggard, and Ady Kiddy also notched a base hit, scoring Click. Pinch hitter Ella Cushing tallied another single to load the bases again, and the eighth base hit of the inning from Brennan brought Haggard and Kiddy across the plate for two more runs.
Frazier and the defense recorded three quick outs in the bottom of the second, to hold Illinois' 10-1 lead into the third frame. In the third inning, Maggie Werner doubled and Cassie Johnson subsequently homered for a pair of Minnesota runs.
Haggard registered her second base hit of the day in the fourth, and pinch runner Reese Hunkins came around to score after a passed ball and a pair of ground outs. The Gophers plated a trio of runs after hits from Brooklyn Jones, Lucy Hooper, and a three-RBI double from Werner.
Illinois ended the contest in strong fashion, with a two-RBI home run from Donahue after Caryl reached on a walk, finishing the 14-6 victory in five innings.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Right-hander Danika Frazier made her first start of 2026 and fifth of her career, throwing the complete five innings for a 1-0 record on the year.
- Frazier conceded six earned runs and notched a pair of strikeouts.
- Eileen Donahue was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in five RBI and launching a two-score home run in the fifth inning to secure the run-rule victory.
- She is the first Illinois player to record four or more hits in a game this season and second to record five or more RBI, after Keirys Click.
- Four hits and five RBI are both new single-game career highs for the junior.
- Donahue's home run is her seventh this season, tying her with Ellie Haggard for the most on the squad. Four of those seven home runs have come during conference play.
- Keirys Click was 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two RBI, her first career game with three or more hits.
- Her second-inning double was her fifth of the season and she extended her reached base streak to five games, her longest such streak this season.
- Ellie Haggard also went 3-for-4 at the plate, marking her first career game with three or more hits.
- Skylar Brennan was 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI, extending her current reached base streak to five games.
- Alaina Miller was 1-for-2 at the plate, also extending her reached base streak to five games.
- Adisyn Caryl, Ady Kiddy, and pinch hitter Ella Cushing also each tallied one hit, marking eight total Illinois players to notch hits on the day.
- Caryl was also walked once, continuing to lead the team with 13 total walks this season.
- Eden Echevarria reached twice on Minnesota errors and once on a fielder's choice, coming home to score a career-high three runs.
UP NEXT
Illinois and Minnesota will battle for the series win at noon CT on Sunday, March 29, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The game can be streamed on B1G+.
