TAMPA – Illinois softball shutout Florida Gulf Coast, 9-0, at USF Softball Stadium to open its run at the USF Tournament on Friday morning.
With the win, the Fighting Illini improved to 13-6 on the year. FGCU fell to 11-11 on the season with the defeat.
Sydney Sickels started and picked up the win for Illinois, tossing five shutout innings while giving up three hits, walking two, and striking out five. Wiles was dealing out of the bullpen as well, pitching two shutout innings without allowing a hit while fanning two.
Kelly Ryono led the way offensively for the Fighting Illini, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with a triple, a home run and three RBI. Stevie Meade provided a noteworthy effort as well, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Delaney Rummell also chipped in, going 3-for-5 at the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini got out to a hot start, scoring on an error and a wild pitch to hold an early 2-0 advantage. Ryono's RBI triple and a single from Rummell doubled the lead in the second, extending the four-run edge.
The teams went scoreless the following three innings before a three-run sixth added to the Orange and Blue advantage. A wild pitch and a double from the bat of Meade gave Illinois the 7-0 lead in the sixth.
Ryono's two-run homer in the seventh were the final runs plated by the Illini in the seventh inning. Despite allowing a walk in the bottom of the frame, Wiles completed the shutout, giving Illinois the 9-0 triumph over the Eagles.
The Fighting Illini return to action with a game against host South Florida on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Sickels and Wiles combined to throw a three-hit shutout, the first combines shutout for the Illini this year.
» Meade, Avrey Steiner and Ryono each posted a three-hit game
» Steiner logged her 200th career hit during the victory.
» Sickels struck out five Eagles hitters.
» Four Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Eagles at an 11-3 clip.
» Illinois wore navy uniforms, moving to 4-2 while wearing those.
» The Fighting Illini drew six walks from FGCU pitching, the most this season.
