URBANA, Ill. – Fighting Illini softball fell, 12-0, in a shortened midweek clash with No. 23 Northwestern at Eichelberger Field on Wednesday night.
The loss dropped the Illini to 22-15 on the season and 1-6 in Big Ten play. Northwestern improved to 21-9 overall and 6-1 in league play in 2023.
Sydney Sickels tossed a five-inning complete game, allowing 12 runs on 13 hits while striking out three in the loss. Offensively, Danielle Davis had the lone hit of the game, a double to left center, to lead off the third.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northwestern jumped ahead in the opening frame, sending a ball over the fence for a two-run blast. Two more homers extended the Wildcat advantage, putting the opposition ahead 4-0 in the second.
A scoreless at bat followed for the Fighting Illini and seven more runs came across for Northwestern, leaving the Illini behind 11-0 heading to the third.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth, but Northwestern tacked on a run in the top of the fifth. Davis reached base in the bottom of the frame, the second time in the game for the redshirt senior, but Illinois was held scoreless, dropping the 12-0 contest.
UP NEXT
Illinois hits the road for a Big Ten series at Michigan this weekend. Friday's series opener is slated for 4 p.m. CT. Both Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore orange uniforms, moving to 7-4 while wearing those.
» Sickels logged her 100th strikeout this season in the top of the first
» Davis reached base twice in the game, posting a double and getting hit by a pitch.
» The six home runs hit by the Wildcats was the most allowed by the Illini pitching staff this year.
» The Illini dropped to 4-2 in shortened games.
» The loss was just the fourth time Illinois has been shut out all season.
» The Fighting Illini moved to 3-3 during night games.
