By Will Charlton
URBANA, Ill. -- The Illinois softball team is currently riding a seven-game win streak after completing a weekend sweep over Wisconsin and recently beating Indiana State Tuesday night.
The Illini faced off against the Badgers in a doubleheader this past Saturday and took both games with ease.
It was pretty much all thanks to sophomore pitcher Tori McQueen who pitched back to back complete games. In the two games combined she got 16 strikeouts and only allowed 3 earned runs off of 5 total hits.
McQueen's performance in both games earned her Big Ten pitcher of the week.
It wasn't all pitching that got the Illini the two wins on Saturday though, as the Illini put up four runs in each game off a combined 17 hits.
Game one was highlighted by Avrey Steiner and Stevie Meade who each had two hits. Meade also recorded an RBI and she was joined in that category by Megan Ward, Paige Berkmeyer, and Gabi Robles who all had one as well. The Illini took that game 4-1.
Game two the offense came off the bats of Meade and Delaney Rummell who each had a two-run home run in the fourth inning which ultimately led the Illini to prevail 4-2.
Then in the series finale, the Badger offense still did not have much of an answer against the pitching of the Illini as Lauren Wiles got the start and pitched a great game.
Wiles went five and two-thirds innings and recorded 9 strikeouts while only allowing one earned run off six hits. Sydney Sickels came in to get the save for the final one and a third.
The offense was stagnant really up until the 5th inning when the Illini scored five runs capitalizing off key defensive mistakes by Wisconsin. Six different Illini got hits but were mostly led by Delaney Rummell who had 3 and Kailee Powell who had 2. The Illini totaled six RBI's as well and won the finale 7-1.
Then on Tuesday Indiana State came to Eichelberger Field and the Illini saw no issues getting the win over the Sycamores.
Sydney Sickels pitched a complete game and was amazing as she recorded 10 strikeouts and only allowed two hits.
The offense was not as hot as it was against Wisconsin but seven different Illini got a hit and Kelly Ryono had two RBI's.
The Illini prevailed 5-0 to extend the win streak to seven.
Next up for the Illini who are now 23-13 with a 6-2 Big Ten record is Rutgers. The squad will be heading out to Piscataway, New Jersey, for a weekend series.
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Story photo courtesy of Matt Haufe/Fighting Illini Athletics
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