PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers softball team outhit the top offensive team in the Big Ten on Saturday, but it was the Fighting Illini who put runs up on the board to top the Scarlet Knights 5-0 at the RU Softball Complex.
Illinois upped its win streak to nine straight improving to 25-13 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play. Rutgers dropped to 23-21 overall and 1-10 in the league.
- Kyleigh Sand was 3-for-3 with two doubles marking the third time this season she has collected hits in each of her at-bats in a game. It was also her 25th-straight contest reaching base.
- Payton Lincavage went 2-for-3, while Katie Wingert and Kiersten Withstandley also added hits.
- Jaden Vickers went the distance but fell to 9-6 on the year. She struck out three along the way.
- Illinois put up four runs in the second inning. Kelly Ryono scored off a wild pitch and two were aboard for Bella Loya's home run to left.
- Back-to-back doubles had the Fighting Illini add another score in the fifth. Megan Ward went out to right-center with Stevie Meade following with the RBI extra-base hit to left.
- Rutgers had its best chance at thwarting the shutout in the bottom of the inning. Kiersten Withstandley entered the lineup for a double to right-center with two outs and advanced to third as Kyleigh Sand hit the ball to short with the Fighting Illini unable to get off the throw. The side, however, was retired before either could advance.
- Sand also doubled with two outs in the seventh but was left on as the game came to a close.
The series between Rutgers and Illinois wraps up on Sunday with first pitch at noon.
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