Illinois (8-15) took home one win in its final tournament of the season at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. Illinois saw opponents LIU (1-23), Louisville (26-25) and Ball State (11-7).
“We’re still searching for an identity,” said head coach Tyra Perry.
The Illini started the weekend with a 2-1 win over the Sharks, but the momentum did not last. Illinois dropped a tight battle 8-6 to Louisville before falling 3-1 to Ball State. In the rematch against the Cardinals, the Illini closed the tournament with a 13-5 defeat.
“It’s been tough to win,” Perry said.
Started off on the right track
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On Friday evening, Illinois opened the weekend with its lone win over LIU in a close, competitive game. The Illini scored their first run efficiently and early in the first frame.
Junior outfielder Skylar Brennan led off with a base hit, followed by a sacrifice bunt from sophomore infielder Keirys Click, pushing Brennan to second. Junior infielder Adisyn Caryl answered with a base hit, advancing Brennan to third. Sophomore catcher Ellie Haggard’s sacrifice fly to right field sent Brennan home.
During the offensive battle, senior right-handed pitcher Karley Yergler held it down on the mound, putting up six strikeouts and allowing no earned runs. This boosted her ERA to 3.29 after that game and 3.82 after the weekend.
“We definitely knew that we were just a little bit stronger, at least on paper, in some areas than LIU,” Perry said. “So, we were trying to make sure that we put our pitching, base-running and hitting at the forefront.”
LIU tied up the game in the fourth inning, but Illinois closed strong. Yergler did not allow any hits in the circle, and Click delivered with a solo home run in the sixth, her third of the season. In the end, this paved the way for the Illini’s victory.
Tight competition
Illinois played a lot of close contests in its first three outings this weekend; unfortunately, it only found success against LIU. It took its first loss on Saturday morning to Louisville.
The trio of pitchers, Yergler, freshman left-handed pitcher Abby Sabalaskey and junior right-handed pitcher Megan Nuechterlein made a collaborative effort in the game. Sabalaskey opened the matchup, holding down the Cardinals’ lineup and keeping them scoreless for the first two innings.
In the fourth inning, the Cardinals broke it open and got in an offensive groove when they caught up with Sabalaskey and scored six runs with a triple, two doubles and a sacrifice fly.
Despite the loss, offensively, the Illini were able to pull together a handful of runs.
Junior infielder Eileen Donahue went 2-2 and had three RBIs on a single with bases loaded in the first inning, knocking in Brennan, Click and Caryl. However, after the first inning, the Illinois bats fell silent until the final two frames.
In the last inning, the Illini battled back and things looked promising after a base hit and two RBIs from freshman infielder Ady Kiddy. Sophomore catcher Jackie Yeager seemingly sealed the deal with a home run and knocked in two more runs for Illinois. This was Yeager’s second home run of the season and of her career. Unfortunately for Illinois, the battle back was not enough and the comeback was short-lived.
“I like what Jackie did in the game against Louisville,” Perry said. “When we were down, she helped bring us back into the game. It was clutch hitting.”
The close games continued for Illinois when it dropped its third game of the Cardinal Classic on Sunday morning to Ball State, seeing it for the third time this season.
Illinois struck first after Brennan’s RBI double scored Kiddy in the second inning, but Ball State clapped back quickly and ultimately took control. After tying the game in the third with back-to-back extra-base hits, the Cardinals added two more runs in the fifth to seal the win.
Despite early chances, including a bases-loaded opportunity in the first, Illinois couldn’t push any more runs across and Ball State held on for victory.
Sunday scaries
Illinois saw Louisville for the second time of the weekend in its final game Sunday afternoon. The game was headed in the right direction up until the fourth inning, when the Cardinals added four runs to give it an edge. They continued by adding four more in the sixth, ultimately slaughtering the Illini.
Illinois struck first again and held a 3-0 lead in the third inning after sophomore infielder Ava Moore’s double set the table for freshman outfielder Brooke Stang’s first career hit. The hit resulted in a bases-loaded walk to Brennan and RBI knocks from Caryl and Donahue.
Louisville responded immediately though, blasting out four runs in both the third and fourth innings. The Cardinals’ freshman infielder, Addy O’Dell, put up a solo homer in the fifth, extending their lead before the Illini brought in two runs in the sixth on Moore’s two RBI single. Louisville piled on, adding four more in the sixth, putting the game to bed.
“We have to be able to compete, even if the high scores are in our face,” Perry said.
Up next
Illinois will make its home debut of the season on Friday at Eichelberger field, kicking off a three-game series against Iowa (14-8, 1-2). The Illini will look to find more success as they move on from the tournament portion of their season.
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