After rain, travel and harsh competition combined to give the Illini (8-9) a rough start to the season, they decided that they no longer needed a 10-day break before their season opener. 5-9 was head coach Tyra Perry’s worst beginning to a season since she arrived in Champaign, but she knew the team just needed some more game action.
Illinois traveled to St. Louis over the weekend in its first trip not requiring a plane in 2024. The last-minute series began with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader before its final game on Monday at noon.
While traveling to Saint Louis to play the Billikens (12-7), the first opponent for Illinois was St. Thomas University (3-20). Senior pitcher Tori McQueen was back in the circle for the Illini after eating a majority of the innings a week ago. A common theme resurged for McQueen as she recorded more high-pressure innings in complete game performance.
“Our whole team works hard,” McQueen said. “For them to trust me enough to put me out there means a lot to me, and I know that my team will have my back.”
Allowing just three hits, one walk and one run wasn’t enough to win the game in seven innings, so McQueen came back out for two perfect innings in extras to cap her stellar outing. The senior added 14 strikeouts, her highest total since March 5, 2022.
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Offensively, it was a struggle for Illinois, which was knotted at one after seven innings. With a runner placed on second to start each extra inning, the Illini finally took the lead for good thanks to a St. Thomas error. After a ground out scored an unearned run, graduate student center fielder Serena Starks came through with insurance, singling up the middle.
The final two games of the weekend were against the Billikens, starting with the back half of the doubleheader. Junior pitcher Lauren Wiles got the start in game two and struggled with command early. The Billikens scratched across one in the first and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead, although the final two runs were unearned. Wiles finished her final two innings strong, ending her box score in four innings with two hits, six walks and three runs.
Junior catcher Paige Berkemyer knocked across the first Illinois runs with a two-RBI double in the third. The Illini were unable to chip away anymore until the final inning, where they still trailed 3-2. After graduate student right fielder Kelly Ryono singled to open the frame, the next two Illinois hitters recorded outs and they had their backs to the wall.
Five Illini reached in a row, finally pushing past the close losses that have plagued Illinois so far in 2024. Sophomore first baseman Sydney Malott knotted the score at three with a single of her own before freshman third baseman Adisyn Cary opened things up. A two-run single to center gave the Illini a two-run lead before adding one more to take game two, 6-3.
The final matchup of the weekend didn’t disappoint, as a rematch between the Illini and Billikens was once again decided in the final inning. This time, Illinois jumped out to a lead, starting with the first batter of the game. Ryono clubbed a homer to left for the game’s only run in the first three innings.
The Illinois offense exploded for five runs in the fourth inning, with freshman first baseman Eileen Donahue knocking in a run. Starks provided another run with an infield single before junior left fielder Stevie Meade added to her big day. Her second of three hits was launched over the wall for a three-run homer, her first of the year, boosting the lead to six.
The lead seemed comfortable as McQueen was pulled after four strong innings, allowing no runs. Wiles wasn’t wild in her return to the circle, but the Billikens were ready. It took just two innings to get back all six runs, and the game was tied going into the seventh. Berkmeyer didn’t want another extra innings game, however, as an infield single scored Meade for an Illinois win.
A successful weekend for the Illini ended with three wins and some confidence as they drew closer to the Big Ten portion of the schedule. First, the Illini will host their home opener on Wednesday, as Missouri comes to town for Braggin’ Rights.
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