Illini Bluffs softball headed back to IHSA state finals after home run in final inning

ATHENS — Illini Bluffs is making that familiar spring trip — to the Illinois High School Association softball state finals.

The top-ranked Tigers (24-1) used a late-inning home run to beat No. 4 Carrollton, 2-1 on Monday, claiming the Class 1A Athens Supersectional. IB's next stop is its fifth successive trip to the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex for the Final Four and a 12:30 p.m. Friday state semifinal against No. 15 Campbell Hill Trico (24-5).

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Carrollton brought in pitcher Hannah Uhles for the top of the seventh with Sara Finn leading off. Finn watched the first pitch go by for a strike before taking the next offering over the center field fence for a solo homer go-ahead run.

Illini Bluffs, guaranteed its seventh state trophy, fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Vanna Holmes hit a two-out solo shot to center for one of just four hits on the day.

That was the only damage the Hawks (34-3) did.

IB tied the game in the top of the fifth. Chloe Eeten, who doubled in the second, reached on an infield error to score Finn (2-for-4), who crossed home plate from second after hitting a single and advancing on a sacrifice bunt.

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Illini Bluffs sophomore pitcher Cora Ellison, who was Saturday's late-inning hero, tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks. She added a single to go with base hits by Annabelle Fortin, Morgan Lowe and Anabelle Reimer.

Carrollton starter Lauren Flowers had scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out seven before being pulled after six innings.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illini Bluffs softball headed back to IHSA state finals after home run in final inning