URBANA — Emily Oestreich needed some help from her teammates on the Illinois softball team to record a win in the final home opener of her Illini career.
The help arrived in the fourth inning.
The Illini brought across five runs in the frame, wiping out an early deficit, and pulled away from there for a 9-4 victory over IUPUI on Tuesday afternoon at Eichelberger Field in Urbana.
Trailing 1-0, Illinois (17-5) tied the game up and later took the lead on RBI singles from Bella Loya and Kailee Powell. Carly Thomas, who finished 3 for 4, struck for the biggest blow of the fourth inning on a three-run double.