With a dominant win yesterday against the Fighting Illini, Penn State looks to build on its momentum and strengthen its chances of making the Big Ten Tournament. A win today would give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead in the series.
Penn State secured a run-rule 10-0 victory against Illinois.
Senior right-hander Karley Yergler starts in the circle for the Fighting Illini, allowing Kaylie Walters to get a walk and Breanna Hanik to get a two-run home run to get the blue and white going with a 2-0 lead.
Allison Oneacre kept it going with a drive down left field and got a single. With no outs yet, Brooke Klosowicz hit it midfield, but the Illinois defense quickly shut it down and cleared the bases.
Both Macy Chamberlin and Gabby Gradishar got a walk, with Natalie Lieto getting hit by a pitch, leaving the bases loaded for the blue and white.
Fighting Illini coach Trya Perry calls a timeout to reset the defense and with this, Yergler was able to strike Cara Bohner, ending the Nittany Lions’ reign.
The Nittany Lions throw Freshman left-hander Brevyn Kellepouris into the circle to start the bottom of the first. But the defense was relentless as it allowed zero runs for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois responded with the same inning, allowing zero runs for the Nittany Lions to start the second.
Momentum started to pick up for the Fighting Illini as Ellie Haggard stepped to the plate and got a single. Jackie Yeager followed up with a hit to right field, but Haggard got out.
Gradishar then gets a shoestring catch to get Addy Kiddy out. Kellepouris struck out Brooke Stang, ending the second inning for Illinois.
Oneacre stepped to the plate and immediately secured a solo home run, putting the Nittany Lions up 3-0 to start the third. But the Illinois defense shuts down the rest of the Nittany Lions’ batters.
Nothing much for the Fighting Illini in the bottom of the third, except a few hits that resulted in outs. But Coach Clarisa Crowell switched pitchers and put in another freshman in Mackenzie Duncan.
The blue and white came out with energy to start the fourth with Bohner hitting it left-field and making it to first. Frankee Flesher comes in as a pinch runner for Bohner on first. Barabanente got hit by a pitch and walked to first.
Coach Perry relieves Yergler and puts in left-hander Abby Sabalaskey for Illinois.
With that, Hanik stepped to the plate and hit it to left field and made it to first. The Nittany Lions were on a roll. Oneacre grounded and made it to first. With an error by the shortstop, Barbanente scored and made the score 4-0, continuing the lead for the blue and white.
As the sun poses to be a struggle for both defenses, Yeager capitalizes on it and doubles to center field. Other than that, the fourth was quiet for the Fighting Illini, who hope to get on the board soon.
The fifth inning was quiet for both teams as no runs were scored.
The sixth inning is where the bats came alive for the blue and white as Barbanente hits it right field for a single. Hanik follows up with a hit infield and also makes it to first, giving the Nittany Lions momentum after a few silent innings.
Oneacre is on a roll as she stepped up to the plate and secured another hit and Barbanente scored on a fielder’s choice, making the score 5-0.
In the sixth inning alone, the Nittany Lions scored five runs, making the score 10-0. With that, the blue and white broke the record for most runs in a single season with 345 runs. Marking an exciting day for the Nittany Lions.
Duncan closed out the game in six innings and secured a 10-0 run-rule victory for the Nittany Lions.
Up Next
The final game between Penn State and Illinois is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
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