Illinois softball is at its best.

The Illini entered Iowa City looking for another pair of victories over a Big Ten opponent, and came away with a sweep — their second in a row.

Illinois’ offense flustered the Hawkeyes’ pitching in an 8-5 victory in Game One and continued its dominance by taking Game Two 6-3.

Shelese Arnold got the start in the first game, coming off an outstanding weekend in which she pitched two shutouts and earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors.

The sophomore had trouble early on, hitting the first batter of the game and giving up a two-run home run.

But Iowa was in for a merciless surprise in the top of the second. Illinois scored eight runs and buried the Hawkeyes before the inning came to an end.

Right fielder Kylie Johnson had five hits and three RBIs in the two games but said she was simply doing her job offensively.

Arnold shut down Iowa’s offense for three more scoreless innings before being pulled in the middle of the fifth. Senior Pepper Gay entered the circle and finished the game, allowing just two hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched and one earned run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch.

Arnold’s third straight win was not her best performance, but a rarely explosive Illini offense was able to ensure the team its fourth straight victory — its longest winning streak of the season.

“In that first inning, they were just getting the bat on the ball,” Arnold said, praising her coach for a wise pitching change when she began to struggle.

Sullivan continued with Gay in Game Two, and Illinois gave her a comfortable lead in the top of the third. An Alex Booker RBI infield single scored two runs as Johnson and Jade Smith scored to make the game 2-0 before Perkins’ RBI double to right-center field allowed Booker to score all the way from first base, making it a 3-0 Illini lead.

Iowa returned fire in the bottom half of the inning, cutting Illinois’ lead to 3-2.

Gay threw seven walks in Game Two, which gave her trouble in the bottom of the fourth when she walked the bases loaded with two outs; however, the Hawkeyes came away with nothing after Massey flew out to left field.

Illinois added three runs in the sixth when junior Sami Estill scored from first on Davis’ double to right-center field. Davis then scored on freshman Allie Bauch’s single. Bauch scored on a Johnson triple to push the Illini further ahead 6-2.

Gay held off the Hawkeyes despite allowing a seventh-inning home run and closed out her 15th complete game of the season for her eighth win.

Sullivan is proud of how the team played together and said its eagerness to compete is what gave the Illini the extra boost on all ends of the field.

“These are two big team road wins,” Sullivan said. “We had multiple people contribute offensively, and we’re starting to be able to put some pressure on our opponents.”

Illinois’ sweep increased the team’s winning streak to five games and pushes the Illini past Iowa in the conference standings, up to ninth place.

“We really came out to play,” Johnson said. “We’re ready to keep this streak going.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter

@Neumannthehuman.