BELOIT, Wis. - Beloit's softball team opened their 2023 conference season with a pair of losses to Illinois College Friday afternoon. The Buccaneers dropped the first game 9-0, which snapped the program's longest winning streak in 18 years (seven games). They would also lose the second game to the Lady Blues by a score of 12-1.

On this cold, windy day, Illinois College scored their nine runs on 12 hits. They got on the board with a three-run third inning, before blowing the game wide open with six runs in the top of the fifth, which included three RBI singles, an RBI double, and a sac fly.

Beloit finished with three hits in the game, coming from Sidalee Meyers, Briana Arteaga, and Angela Donath. Illinois College struck out 11 Beloit batters out of the 15 outs that were recorded.

Illinois College continued to pour it on in the second game, taking an early lead with a five-run second inning. Beloit got on the board in the bottom of that inning when Stella Lutes scored on a fielder's choice, which was the Buccaneers' lone run of the day. The Lady Blues would score five more runs in the third, and another in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Beloit finished with two hits in the second game, coming off the bat of Meyers, and Jocelyn Johnson. Illinois College's 12 runs came on just eight hits.

The Buccaneers will try to rebound and begin a new winning streak on Saturday against Knox College. That doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. at Strong Complex Softball Field in Beloit, Wis.