No. 25 Illinois earns 10th straight win over Nebraska

The No. 25 Fighting Illini softball team a set season-long win streak with their 10th-straight victory in a come-from-behind 5-3 defeat of Nebraska on Saturday (April 22) afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

With the win, the Illini earn their third-straight and fourth overall Big Ten Conference series victory of the season and improve their record to 34-10 and 12-2 in the league. Nebraska drops to 19-25 and 9-7 in the conference.

"We started the game strong and Nebraska answered back in the first inning," said head coach Tyra Perry. "I am proud of our team for staying calm and doing what was needed to win. Stephanie Abello had a key hit for us at the top of the seventh to add to our lead and give us momentum. Breanna Wonderly was once again amazing in the circle. She weathered the storm and came through for us when we needed her."

After the Huskers scored in the opening frame, senior Breanna Wonderly (17-9) held the home team without a run over the next six innings, giving up just three earned runs on seven hits and two walks on the day, while striking out four in a complete game effort.

The Illini started off the scoring with a pair of runs in the opening frame as a leadoff single from sophomore Kiana Sherlund and a walk issued to senior Alyssa Gunther put two on for senior Nicole Evans, who sent a two-RBI single up the middle for the early lead.

Nebraska answered back with their only three runs of the game in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI fielder's choice, followed by a two-run single through the right side.

Junior Leigh Farina then knotted the game at 3-3 in the second as she tripled down the left field line and was driven in on an RBI from junior Maddi Doane, who reached on a Husker fielding error.

The score remained tied until the top of the sixth as a one-out Farina single turned into the go-ahead run with Sherlund knocked an infield single to move the junior to third, before a Husker error brought her in on the play.

Sophomore Stephanie Abello added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to left field.

Both teams registered seven hits in the contest, with the Huskers committing four errors on the day. Farina tallied two hits and two runs to lead the Illini, with Evans turning in two RBI, a hit and a run. Sherlund added two hits and a run in the win.

Illinois wraps up its three-game conference series with Nebraska on Sunday (April 23) with first pitch set for 12 p.m. CT on BTN Plus.