Illinois softball lost to Maryland, 8-1, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, April 19. The Fighting Illini are now 13-33 overall and 3-14 in Big Ten play.
The game saw Illinois put runners on base early with hits from Skylar Brennan and Adisyn Caryl. However, a pair of fielder’s choice outs and a fly out ended their scoring chance in the first inning. Maryland capitalized on an Illinois error and base hit by Bailey Murphy, bringing home two runs with a double from Matti Benson and adding another with an RBI single from Caroline Fox.
Brooke Stang reached base for Illinois in the second inning on a walk and later scored the team’s only run after another walk to Ava Moore and an error that allowed her to come home. Starting pitcher Danika Frazier kept Maryland scoreless for four innings while limiting them to five hits. In the fifth inning, Illinois loaded the bases but was unable to score after a strikeout ended their opportunity.
Maryland increased its lead following two errors by Illinois, including an RBI double from Murphy. Additional runs came from Mariah Penta’s base hit and Lauren Caye’s two-RBI double. In the final inning, Jackie Yeager walked for her second time of the day while Stang added another hit but Illinois could not rally back.
Frazier made her fourth start of the season as pitcher for Illinois, throwing five-and-two-thirds innings with three strikeouts—her first conference outing this season with three or more—and no walks allowed. Caryl went two-for-three at bat along with a walk; it was her twelfth multi-hit game this year. Brennan had one hit in three at-bats plus a walk; Stang finished perfect at one-for-one with two walks.
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women’s Softball program participates in intercollegiate competitions as part of NCAA Division I within the Big Ten Conference according to its official website. The team plays its home games in Urbana, Illinois according to its official website, where it is known as part of University athletics under the nickname “Fighting Illini” according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Illinois returns home for its final five-game homestand starting Tuesday against Indiana State before hosting Penn State for their last home conference series.
