CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Iowa softball team fell to Illinois in game one of a three-game series, 2-1, in 10 innings on Friday night at Eichelberger Field.
Jalen Adams got the start for the Hawkeyes and allowed just three hits through the first five innings.
Freshman Jena Young had a one out double in the top of third. Iowa had runners on the corners with two outs but were unable to capitalize.
Sophomore Tory Bennett put the Hawkeyes on the board first in the fifth with a double to left, scoring Grace Banes. Illinois responded in the home half scoring on an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at one. Iowa had a scoring opportunity in the sixth as freshman Devin Bowman got to third after a two out double but was left there as the Illini recorded the third out. Both teams were retired in order in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Adams continued to keep the Illini hitters off the base path as she faced just seven hitters through the eighth and ninth. The Hawkeyes were able to get runners on the corners with one out in the top of the 10th but once again left the stranded. The Illini ended the game in the bottom of the 10th after a leadoff double came around to score on a single.
Iowa finished the game with one run on eight hits and three errors. The Hawkeyes left 11 runners on base.