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Illini Out-Hammer Hoosiers, 22-12, for Series Sweep

The Fighting Illini set a new all-time record by scoring 22 runs in Sunday's series finale, completing the Big Ten series sweep of Indiana with a 22-12 victory at Eichelberger Field. The Hoosiers took an early 10-4 lead, but the Illini replied with 13 unanswered runs, scoring at least four runs in every inning to clobber the Hoosiers on getaway day. The win lifts Illinois to 11-20 (3-3 Big Ten), while Indiana sinks to 10-26 (1-5 Big Ten).

"We took some early punches today and then gave some hard ones back," said head coach Terri Sullivan. "Sunday games are very tough grinders, and Coach Gardner always has her team fighting hard inning by inning. Offensively, we had a lineup that really put constant pressure on the defense. Jade was our leader in the circle all weekend and critical in getting the sweep today."

Every Illini batter had at least one hit in the game, led by freshman Carly Thomas, who went 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a team-season-high seven RBIs. Three other Illini also hit the long ball, including Allie Bauch, who was 3-for-4 with a double and the homer, and Annie Fleming, who hit her first career bomb in the third. Jess Perkins hit the first long ball of the game as part of a 3-for-3 day at the plate with three runs, a walk and four RBIs.

In just 28 at-bats, the Illini put together 18 hits and 22 runs with five walks and not a single strikeout. Ten of Illinois' 18 hits went for extra bases for 39 total bases, crushing the previous record of 33 which the Illini tied in Saturday's nightcap against the Hoosiers. Additionally, the combined 34 runs scored in the game set a new all-time record, an 18-15 victory over Penn State on March 22, 2009. The 22-12 figure also marks the most single-team and combined runs scored by a Big Ten team this season.

For the Hoosiers, Shannon Cawley was flawless at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, while Taylor Uden was 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs.

Breanna Wonderly got the start in the circle for the Illini, but left after just two thirds of an inning having surrendered six runs, five earned, on four hits and a walk. Jade Vecvanags (5-7) pitched the remaining four-and-a-third innings, picking up her third win of the weekend despite allowing six runs on eight hits and sixth walks.

Lora Olson (6-19) tossed the first two-and-a-third innings for Indiana, but was replaced after allowing 14 runs on 13 hits and two walks. Miranda Tamayo surrendered the next six runs on four hits and two walks over the next inning, before Katelyn Conenna made her first career appearance in the circle and gave up two runs on just one hit and one walk over the final two thirds of an inning.

Indiana used a two-out rally in the top of the first to take a daunting 6-0 lead and chase the Illini starter from the circle. Wonderly got the first two batters out, but surrendered a double followed by a two-run jack to Kelsey Dotson to open the scoring. The Hoosiers kept the rally going by loading the bases, and Taylor Uden then crushed a bases-clearing double to right center to make it 5-0 Hoosiers. Vecvanags took over in the circle, but an errant throw by Ruby Rivera from short allowed an unearned run before a flyout to center finally allowed the Illini their first chance at the plate.

Bauch stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first determined to right the ship and kicked things off with a leadoff single to right. Rivera drew a one-out walk, and three straight run-scoring hits by Perkins, Nicole Evans and Thomas cut Indiana's lead in half. Brittany Sanchez grounded to second, scoring Evans, but an off-target throw to first in an attempt to turn two made her try to take second, where she ran herself into a double play after all, ending the inning down 6-4.

The Hoosiers pushed right back ahead with a four-spot of their own in the top of the second off four singles and two walks to jump on top, 10-4.

The Orange and Blue replied again in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on five hits to pull within one, 10-9. Fleming led off with a single, and an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed Kylie Johnson to reach safely. The Illini then followed with a double (Bauch) and a single (Alyssa Gunther), scoring three runs, and a two-run blast by Perkins cut the Hoosiers' lead down to just one.

Indiana loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third, but the Illini defense held them in their spots for the first scoreless half inning of the game.

The Illini tied the score in the bottom of the third on an RBI triple by Johnson, and Gunther beat out an RBI single to short to give Illinois its first lead of the game. A run-scoring double by Perkins forced Coach Gardner to finally make a call to the bullpen, bringing in Tamayo. The senior got Rivera to fly out in foul territory for a sacrifice fly, but allowed home runs to freshmen Thomas and Fleming, as an eight-run frame made it 17-10 Illinois after just three innings.

The Hoosiers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth, but the Illini defense limited them to just two runs on a walk and a sacrifice fly, returning to the dugout leading 17-12.

Bauch led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, and after three walks loaded the bases, Thomas drilled the first Illini grand slam of the season to straightaway center to break the Illini scoring record and make it a run-rule situation.

Mena Fulton doubled to left with one out in the top of the fifth, but that was final hit for the Hoosiers, as the Illini completed the series sweep by a final score of 22-12 in final innings.

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