CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Purdue softball team dropped both games of its Saturday doubleheader at Illinois.
The Boilermakers (7-20) brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh in the opener but only managed to bring in one run. In the second game, Illinois (18-9) used runs in three middle innings to win 5-0.
GAME 1
The Boilermakers nearly rallied from a four-run deficit in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out, but Illinois held on for a 4-1 decision in the opening game.
Purdue hurler Savanah Henley went the distance and took the loss. The lefty fanned four and scattered five hits with a pair of walks. Three of her four runs were unearned.
Henley cruised through the opening three innings, working around a trio of base knocks. The defense helped keep the Fighting Illini off the board. Henley turned a 1-6 double play with Rachel Becker to end the first, and catcher Kaeley Hallada threw out a runner out stealing in the second.
The lefty shrugged off a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to post a clean seven-pitch fifth. Illini third baseman Delaney Rummel hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to open a four-run gap.
Ryleigh Scott, Hallada and Becca Jones all singled in the top of the seventh to load the bases. Becker managed to bring a run in on an RBI groundout, but Illinois closed the door on any comeback attempt.
Purdue outhit Illinois 6-5 but stranded seven to the hosts' three. Illinois starter Addy Jarvis struck out four over 6 1/3 innings of work with one earned run and a walk against, while giving six hits. Sydney Sickels tossed the final two outs to get the save.
Purdue – 1, Illinois - 4
Winning pitcher: Addy Jarvis (5-3)
Save: Sydney Sickels (2)
Losing pitcher: Savanah Henley (1-5)
GAME 2
Despite loading the bases in the first inning, the Boilermakers were unable to bring a run across in the 5-0 loss to round out the doubleheader.
Illinois pitcher Tori McQueen tossed the complete-game shutout with a pair of strikeouts, no walks and just one hit allowed after the first inning. The hosts took the lead on a three-run third, followed by runs in the fourth and fifth to open the gap to its final margin.
Rachel Becker picked up a pair of hits, both coming from bunts. Ryleigh Scott also reached on a bunt single and Kiley Goff added a base knock.
Starting pitcher Alex Echazarreta threw 2 2/3 inning of work with one strikeout, four hits and three earned runs allowed. The Boilermakers used a full slate of relief arms – Sydney Preston for 1/3 inning, Ashley Peters for a frame and Sydney Bates for the final two innings. Bates fanned three and did not allow a hit in the process.
Purdue – 0, Illinois - 5
Winning pitcher: Tori McQueen (3-3)
Losing pitcher: Alex Echazarreta (0-4)
UP NEXT
Purdue will close out its four-game set against the Fighting Illini on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.