Purdue vs Illinois | Big Ten Softball - Game 2
Behind a nine-run fifth inning that was highlighted by three-straight home runs, the Illinois softball team put together a 11-9 come-from-behind win over Purdue on Senior Day Saturday (May 4) at Eichelberger Field. With the win, the Illini clinched their third Big Ten Conference series of the season.
The Illini improved to 30-22 and 8-14 in the conference, marking the fourth-straight season that the Illini have registered at least 30 or more wins, which is just the second time ever in program history that UI has reached that achievement.
Redshirt-senior Carly Thomas led the Illini at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort with two RBI and two runs, while senior Veronica Ruelius added two hits, a run and an RBI on the day.
The Boilermakers (30-25, 6-16 B1G) used a three-run home run and RBI singles to jump out to a quick 6-0 advantage in the opening inning, before the Illini got on the board in the bottom half of the frame on a Thomas RBI single.
A Purdue wild pitch scored freshman pinch runner Hannah Sasaki to bring the Illini within 6-2, but the Boilermakers answered back with a lead off solo homer in the fifth.
Trailing at 7-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Illini put on an offensive show in the frame with nine runs on eight hits, including back-to-back-back home runs from sophomore Shelby Stauffenberg, freshman Kailee Powell and senior Alexis Carrillo, as well as RBI hits from sophomore Bella Loya, Thomas and Ruelius to propel the home team to an 11-7 lead.
Purdue would score a pair of two-out runs in the top of the seventh, before senior Emily Oestreich sealed the 11-9 comeback win with a fly out to left field and earned her first save of the season with a two-run, one-hit, one-strikeout two innings of work.
Senior Danielle Brochu (1-0) entered in the fifth and allowed just two walks in 0.2 innings to register her first win of the season. Classmate Taylor Edwards started and went 0.2 innings, before freshman Sydney Sickels relieved her and threw for 3.2 frames.
Next Up
Illinois next wraps up the 2019 regular season at Eichelberger Field on Sunday (May 5) against Purdue at 12 p.m. CT. It will be EichelBURGER Day on Sunday with free burgers for the first 75 fans, with burgers also being sold at the concession stand throughout the game.