Softball advances to Big Ten quarterfinals with 5-2 win over Illinois

A fast start with four runs over the first two innings catapulted Penn State to a 5-2 victory over Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten softball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Thursday evening. The 11th-seeded Nittany Lions (16-33, 5-17 Big Ten) will face No. 3 seed Minnesota at 5:30 p.m. ET Friday at Bowlin Stadium in the quarterfinals.