PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska's first Scarlet Knight career home run was a grand slam that lifted the Rutgers softball team to a 4-1 series finale victory over Illinois on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the RU Softball Complex.
Playing in their final home Big Ten series of the 2025 campaign, the Scarlet Knights captured the series win against the Fighting Illini.
Rutgers 4, Illinois 1
- Redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska came in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, two outs and the Scarlet Knights trailing 1-0. She sent a 2-1 pitch down the left field line and over the wall for her first career home run and the Scarlet Knights' first grand slam since Morgan Smith against Maryland on April 10, 2024.
- Senior Laurelai DePew got the start, went five innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out five. Freshman Kelsey Hoekstra picked up the victory and improved to 6-10 on the year. She gave up three hits, yielding no runs, in her two innings of work.
- Illinois broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth. Yazzy Avila led off with a double to center, moved over to third on the sac bunt from Stevie Meade and scored on a Keirys Click sac fly to center.
- Leading off the bottom of the inning, Bailey Briggs singled to center field. LA Matthews followed and was robbed of putting Rutgers up as the Fighting Illini's Alaina Miller robbed the graduate student of a two-run home run, grabbing the ball as it was heading over the top of the wall.
- Five batters later, however, Stephanie Kraska connected for her grand slam. With two outs, Georgia Ingle singled thru the left side with Kelsie Riggan coming aboard to pinch run. The bases were then loaded after a Riley Hwang walk setting up Kraska to send everyone home.
Rutgers softball closes out the home schedule on Tuesday, April 29 at 3 p.m. against Monmouth at the RU Softball Complex. Admission is free.
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