High five: Illini Bluffs softball heads to the 2024 IHSA supers after dramatic final at-bat

GLASFORD — Illini Bluffs waited until its last at-bat to finally come alive.

The top-ranked Tigers softball team broke up a perfect game and walked off a 1-0 winner over Pleasant Hill in Saturday's Class 1A Glasford sectional title game.

Illini Bluffs (23-1) heads to the Elite Eight for a fifth successive season and will face fourth-ranked Carrollton (34-2) at 11 a.m. Monday in the Athens Supersectional.

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Pleasant Hill pitcher McKinley Lowe had kept the IB hitters off-balance all game, retiring the first 19 batters. But with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Annabelle Fortin beat out a bunt down the third-base line.

The senior then made it around to third base on an error. This brought up Illinois State recruit and junior catcher Lexi Brinkman, who reached on an intentional walk.

Lowe then picked up her 14th strikeout of the game to give Pleasant Hill two outs.

Cora Ellison, however, wasn't looking to play extra innings. Her 1-2 swing resulted in a single to left, scoring Fortin and giving IB its eighth sectional title in program history.

Ellison scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out 12 in the pitching win.

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