Down three runs in the late stages of the midweek bout, Illinois (13-16, 1-5) never gave up hope against Northern Iowa (18-8, 6-0). A late comeback by the Illini sent the game to extra innings, where the Panthers eventually hung on and prevailed.
Following a rough weekend sweep by the Oregon Ducks (29-3, 5-1), Illinois came home hoping to get back on track. Their efforts, although strong, simply were not enough.
Coming out fierce
A long week of travel did not faze the Illini. They immediately got back into the swing of things after arriving back early Monday morning.
“We had the whole rest of the day to rest and we had some practice,” said freshman utility player Keirys Click. “But I feel like the team really came together and just used each other, like bouncing off of each other where energy was needed and where energy might have been lacking because we were traveling for 24 hours.”
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Freshman right-hander Karley Yergler got the start in the circle. In the first three innings, she got a lot of Panther batters to ground out or pop up, and struck out two. Northern Iowa would only reach base once on a walk in the first inning.
The Illini struck first from freshman first baseman Ella Cushing’s ground ball single back up the middle. Click scored on the play and led off the inning with a single of her own. A miscommunication between the Panthers outfielders led to a pop fly falling between them in center field.
Things turn sour
Illinois led Northern Iowa 2-0 entering the fourth inning, and this moment is where the game got turned on its head. Yergler got chased after allowing back-to-back home runs, the first of which brought in three runs. She did not record an out on the first four Panther batters.
The Illini brought a run across on a comedy of errors in the bottom of the frame, but still trailed by one after four. Freshman right-hander London Park sat the Panthers down in order in the fifth, but another home run in the sixth inning gave the Panthers their largest lead of the evening at 6-3.
Don’t call it a comeback
It may have seemed like all hope was lost, but you can’t tell that to the Illini. They got baserunners in the bottom of the sixth, and junior second baseman Gabrielle Debevec doubled over the center fielder’s head. That brought both runners home to make it a one-run game.
“Every time someone got a hit, we were stringing together great,” Click said. “We really bounced off of each other the whole game, getting hits, picking people up when needed, so I think we did a really good job today.”
In the bottom of the frame, sophomore third baseman Adisyn Caryl’s clutch gene showed up once again. With two outs and runners on first and second, she laced a single to bring redshirt sophomore utility player Yazzy Avila home.
The eighth inning did not go as the Illini hoped, however. The Panthers loaded the bases with nobody out, putting sophomore right-handed pitcher Megan Nuechterlein in a tough spot. A Northern Iowa single would bring home the go-ahead run, and Illinois batted out in order. The Panthers won the game, 7-6.
Closing out March
Illinois will end the month of March with a two-game set against Big Ten rival Washington (24-9, 3-2). The back-to-back games are scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
