AUBURN, Ala. – Illinois softball fell to RV/#23 Virginia Tech, 18-1, in five innings in the team's season opener at the Tiger Invitational from Jane B. Moore Field on Friday morning.
With the loss, the Fighting Illini dropped to 0-1, while the Hokies improved to 1-0 with the victory. In the circle, Lauren Wiles got the start and took the loss, putting the right-hander at 0-1 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini fell behind early after Wiles allowed two runs in the opening frame. Two more runs scored by VT in the following inning put the Illini behind, 4-0, early in the contest.
In her first collegiate at-bat, Eileen Donahue led off the third with a single. With two outs on the board and a runner on second, Kelly Ryono sent a double off the wall in center field, scoring the Orange and Blue's first run of the season.
However, the momentum stayed with the Hokies, with the opposing squad scoring 14 unanswered runs to close out the season-opening loss for the Fighting Illini.
Up Next
Illinois returns to action at Jane B. More Field at 7 p.m. on Friday night, when the team faces Belmont.
GAME NOTES
» Illinois wore white jerseys, moving to 0-1 in those.
» The Fighting Illini are now 3-3 all-time against the Hokies.
» Sydney Malott recorded the team's first hit of the season.
» Kelly Ryono logged the squad's first RBI of 2024.
» Adisyn Caryl and Eileen Donahue made their collegiate debuts.
» Donahue tallied her first collegiate hit, a single off the first pitch she saw.
