Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois
Indiana Outslugged by Illinois, 22-12
3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Final Stats
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URBANA, Ill. - In a high-scoring series finale, the Indiana softball team was bested by Illinois in five innings, 22-12. Senior Shannon Cawley led the Hoosiers on offense, going 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Indiana jumped out to a commanding start, scoring six runs in the first inning, the most in an opening frame this season. All of the Hoosiers first-inning runs came with two outs as Cawley started things off with a double to center. Next batter up, Kelsey Dotson smacked her third homer in as many games on a shot to left-center field. After CaraMia Tsirigos was hit by a pitch, Brianna Meyer singled and Kassi Farmer walked to load the bags for Taylor Uden, who cleared the bases on a double. The scoring was completed with Uden crossing home after Rebecca Blitz reached on an Illini fielding error.
Illinois answered by plating four runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of RBI singles by Jess Perkins and Carly Thomas, an RBI double by Nicole Evans and a score on a fielder’s choice from Brittany Sanchez.
After a lead-off single in the second by Cawley and a pair of walks to Dotson and Tsirigos, Meyer hit her second single of the game to bring in two runs and push Indiana’s lead up to 8-4. Uden, who recorded five RBI in Saturday’s second game of the doubleheader, brought in her third run of the game on a single down the right field line to score Tsirigos. A single from Rachel O’Malley brought in Uden and gave the Hoosiers a 10-4 advantage.
The Illini got within one run in the bottom of the frame after scoring five runs on five hits and two Indiana errors.
For the first time in the game, the Hoosiers were unable to plate a run in the third, which proved costly as Illinois exploded for an eight-run inning to take a commanding 17-10 lead. In the frame, Illinois scored four of its runs on a pair of two-run homers, hit by Thomas and Annie Fleming.
Indiana was able to chip away in the fourth inning as a bases-loaded walk to Cawley scored O’Malley and a sacrifice fly by Tsirigos brought in Blitz to make it 17-12.
However, the Illini would plate five runs in the inning on a solo homer by Allie Bauch and a grand slam from Thomas. The frame saw the collegiate pitching debut of Indiana’s Katelyn Conenna, who tossed two-thirds of the inning.
The Hoosiers return home for the next five games as they play host to Maryland in a three-game series starting Friday and face in-state rival Purdue in doubleheader action Wednesday afternoon.
Media contact: Caitlin Davis, davis288@indiana.edu
