URBANA, Ill. – Indiana State softball fell in both games of a doubleheader against Illinois on Wednesday evening at Eichelberger Field.
 
The Sycamores (17-14) lost game one 3-1 and took a 6-0 loss in game two to the Fighting Illini (21-12) who now lead the all-time series 13-2 over Indiana State.
 
Game One
In what was a low-scoring affair, neither team would get on the board until the fourth inning when Illinois plated three runs on four hits. Lexi Benko, who started in the circle for the Sycamores, was replaced after 3.1 innings by Hailey Griffin. With just one away in the frame, Griffin got a foul out and a fly out to strand two runners and limit the damage to three runs.
 
Griffin worked a scoreless inning in the fifth to keep it a 3-0 game.
 
Indiana State would put a dent in the lead in the top of the sixth, making it 3-1 courtesy of a Isabella Henning RBI single that scored Abi Chipps. Chipps reached on a single which broke up a no-hit bid for Illinois starter Sydney Sickels. Hailey Griffin continued her strong relief outing in the bottom half, setting down the Illini in order once again.
 
Cassie Thomerson and Maeve McDonough reached with two-out singles in the top of the seventh, but Illinois would get out of the jam to secure a 3-1 victory in game one of the doubleheader.
 
Benko took the loss for ISU, dropping to 8-4 on the season. She allowed three runs on five hits while striking out three. Her start was the 66^th of her career, which put her in the top-10 for starts in the circle at Indiana State. She also moved into eighth all-time in program history with 228 strikeouts.
 
Griffin's final line was 2.2 innings in relief, not allowing a baserunner in her outing.
 
Indiana State and Illinois both finished with five hits for the contest.
 
Game Two
Indiana State starter Lauren Sackett set the Illini down in order in the first, picking up her first strikeout of the nightcap.
 
Illinois would strike first in the contest, hitting a solo home run to right center to take a 1-0 lead. Sackett got her second strikeout to retire the side.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Fighting Illini would add another run with an RBI single to go up 2-0.

The Sycamores were held hitless until the fifth inning for the second-straight game. Similar to game one, Abi Chipps ended the Illini bid for a no-hitter as she reached with a bunt single. After a leadoff single in the bottom half of the frame, Lauren Sackett was replaced by Cassi Newbanks. Illinois would put up two runs in the inning on a pair of RBI doubles to go up 4-0.
 
After a scoreless top of the sixth for Indiana State, Illinois would extend their lead in the bottom half, scoring a pair of runs to run their lead to 6-0. Cassi Newbanks got her third strikeout of the night to bring the Sycamores to the plate for a chance to rally.
 
The Fighting Illini would close out their doubleheader sweep in the seventh, setting down ISU in order to win 6-0.
 
Lauren Sackett drops to 3-4 on the season with the loss. She struck out four Illini hitters across four innings. Indiana State finished with two hits, singles from Abi Chipps and Kennedy Shade.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will head to Carbondale, Illinois this weekend for a three-game MVC series at Southern Illinois beginning on Saturday, April 1 at 3 p.m. ET.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.