LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Illinois softball (8-12, 0-0 Big Ten) opened its Cardinal Classic with a victory over LIU, 2-1, on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pitcher Karley Yergler retired the first three batters she faced, and Skylar Brennan led off with a base hit for Illinois. A sacrifice bunt from Keirys Click pushed Brennan to second, and a base hit from Adisyn Caryl allowed Brennan to advance to third. Ellie Haggard flew out to right field and Brennan came across to score before Caryl was tagged for the final out of the frame.
Yergler added four strikeouts across the second and third innings, before LIU evened the game in the fourth frame. Lily Hinkle was walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Devon Medina, and reached third upon a base hit from Jennifer Rodriguez, ultimately scoring after an Illinois error.
Yergler did not allow a hit in the final two innings and Click notched a solo home run to deep center field in the sixth, securing the 2-1 victory for Illinois.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Karley Yergler added a win for the second consecutive game, improving to 2-3 on the season
- Yergler added six strikeouts, her most this season since notching seven against Lamar on February 6
- She allowed just two hits and no earned runs, lowering her season ERA to 3.29
- Keirys Click went 1-for-2 at the plate, logging her third home run of the season
- Adisyn Caryl also went 1-for-2 at the plate, extending her reached-base streak to 12 games
- Skylar Brennan extends her streak to four consecutive games with a hit
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue are back for an afternoon doubleheader on day two of the Cardinal Classic, facing Louisville at 2 p.m. CT, and LIU for the second time at 4:30 p.m. CT. The outing against the Cardinals will be streamed on ACC Network Extra, with Suzanne Bush on the call.
