Illinois Blanks Iowa in Series Finale

May 1, 2016

IOWA48  

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Iowa softball team dropped an 8-0 decision to Illinois in five innings on Sunday afternoon. The loss secured the three-game series sweep for the Illini (31-19; 10-10).

Illinois jumped on the board early, plating six runs in the bottom of the first. The Fighting Illini led off the inning with a solo home run to right, and used the momentum to send 11 more batters to the plate in the inning. Three walks, three errors, a sacrifice fly, and three singles gave the Illini a 6-0 lead.

The Fighting Illini threatened in the third, loading the bases on an error, single, and a walk. Freshman Erin Riding fought back; however, striking out three straight batters to escape the bases loaded jam.

Illinois plated their final two runs of the game in the fifth. A pair of Iowa errors and back-to-back singles secured the 8-0 run-rule win. Defensive miscues haunted the Hawkeyes throughout as Iowa registered eight errors in the contest.

Shayla Starkenburg (4-14) took the loss in the circle. The redshirt junior allowed six runs — four earned — on three hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. Sophomore Ashley Yoways threw a scoreless inning and 2/3 in relief, while Riding tossed the final two and 1/3. Riding did not allow an earned run on three hits and a walk.

Illinois junior Jade Vecvanags (11-10) registered the complete-game win for the Illini. Vecvanags held the Hawkeyes to two hits over five innings. Junior Kaitlyn Mullarkey and senior Holly Hoffman each notched a hit for the Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes (13-35; 3-17) return to action Tuesday, traveling to Ames, Iowa, for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series match-up with the Cyclones. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (CT) from the Cyclone Sports Complex.