URBANA, Ill. - Western Michigan softball was not able to capitalize with runners in scoring position, falling to tournament host Illinois, 6-2, on Friday night.

After stranding 11 runners on base against St. Louis, WMU stranded eight more against the Illini, scoring one run with bases loaded in the home half of the third.

Melissa Palmer reached on a fielder's choice followed by Christina Pigozzi reaching on a throwing error, the Illini's second of the inning.  Sabrina Gamboa was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Lauren Nagy's 11th RBI of the season on a base hit to left field.

Illinois strung along four-straight innings with at least a run to build its lead.  Jess Perkins hit her second home run of the season to extend the lead to 3-1 when in the previous half inning Palmer looked to have tied the score with a double over the bag at third base but it was called a foul ball by the home plate umpire.

After Perkins' solo shot Illinois added three insurance runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-1 lead.  WMU tacked on a second and final run when Diana Patterson scored on a Colleen Lynch ground out.

Pigozzi, Gamboa, Nagy and Mackenzie Shepeck, as a pinch hitter, accounted for the four WMU hits on the evening.  Pigozzi has now reached base in 12 straight games.  Allyson Kus struck out three in the loss.

The Illini are one of four Big Ten teams that WMU will face in 2013.  The Broncos are now 1-1 against the conference after defeating Penn State, 9-8, on March 8.

WMU will face Loyola-Chicago Saturday morning at 12 p.m. ET.