University of Illinois
Nebraska
Illini Seek First-Round Bye in Final Series at Nebraska
April 30, 2015 | Softball
Illinois has clinched a top-five finish in the Big Ten standings
| Illinois (25-24, 13-7 Big Ten) at Nebraska (30-9, 15-5 Big Ten) - May 1-3, 2015 - Bowlin Stadium | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |
| Date | Friday, May 1 | Saturday, May 2 | Sunday, May 3 |
| Time | 5:30 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Noon |
| Television | - | NET | - |
| Video | BTN Plus | BTN Plus | BTN Plus |
| Live Stats | Live Stats | Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Printable Notes | Illinois | Nebraska | ||
| Series History | Illinois trails, 2-8 | NU won 12-3, on 4/6/14 | Streak: Lost 2 | Results | ||
| Site Info | Bowlin Stadium seats 2,500 with 750 chairback seats. | Map | ||
| Tickets | Reserved tickets are $7. General admission is $5 (adults) or $3 (youth/seniors). Children 6 and under receive free general admission. | Buy Tickets | ||
| Social Media | @IlliniSoftball  | #Illini | Facebook  | YouTube  | ||
Lincoln, Neb. - The Fighting Illini enter the final weekend of the regular season with the opportunity to capture a first-round bye for the 2015 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, on May 7-9. The Orange and Blue have clinched a top-five finish in the Big Ten standings and currently sit in fourth place with three games to go.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Illinois heads into the final weekend of the season with a 13-7 Big Ten record, good for fourth place. The Illini are two games behind this weekend's opponent, Nebraska (15-5), and a half game ahead of Northwestern (12-7), who had one game of its Wisconsin series cancelled. A successful final weekend would clinch a top-four finish for the first time since the tournament expanded to 12 teams in 2013, which comes with a first-round bye to the Big Ten quarterfinals.
With a sweep of Nebraska, the Illini will claim the #3 seed and await the winner of the #6 vs. #11 game in the quarterfinals. If Nebraska wins at least one game, Illinois will earn either #4 or #5, depending on how Northwestern does against Iowa. If Illinois wins more games than Northwestern this weekend, the Illini clinch a first-round bye. If Northwestern does better, the Illini will finish fifth in the Big Ten and will take on the #12 seed in the opening round.
NARRATING NEBRASKA
Like Illinois, Nebraska is one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, posting a 12-3 record in the month of April and entering the weekend having won 10 of 11, including seven of its last eight Big Ten games. Also like Illinois, Nebraska is feuled by a high-powered offense, averaging 7.1 runs per game, with 18 double-digit scoring games and 15 run-rule victories.
The Huskers are batting a program-record .344 as a team, ranking 13th in the nation in on base percentage (.438), 17th in scoring and 18th in batting average. Nebraska has also proved a tough team to strike out, going down on strikes just 135 times in 49 games, which is the second-fewest of any team from a Power Five conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC).
Individually, the Huskers have nine batters hitting over .300, led by MJ Knighten (.435) and Kiki Stokes (.408). Knighten enters the weekend riding an eight-game hitting streak, having hit safely in 29 of the last 30 games including all 20 Big Ten contests. She is slugging .647 with seven home runs, 14 walks and seven stolen bases. Stokes has reached base safely in 22-straight games and is tied with Steph Pasquale for the team lead with 10 home runs, slugging .728 with 30 walks.
The Nebraska pitching staff struggled early in the season, but posted a 2.73 ERA over the 12-3 month of April, including allowing at most one run in five of the 15 games, surrendering an average of 3.0 runs during the month. Emily Lockman has shouldered most of the weight in the circle, going 14-12 wtih a 4.47 ERA and 89 strikeouts over 153.1 innings, while Cassie McClure (9-2) and Kaylan Jablonksi (7-5) have combined evenly for 145.1 of the remaining 149.1 innings pitched.
HISTORY WITH THE HUSKERS
The Illini have faced the Huskers in a three-game series in all three seasons since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2012. Illinois returns to Lincoln to take on the Huskers for the first time since 2012, when Nebraska limited the Illini to a combined two runs over the full weekend for a series sweep. The Illini hosted the Huskers in each of the last two seasons, and took 1-of-3 both times, including an explosive 11-4 victory over then-No. 20 Nebraska on April 5, 2014, in front of a crowd of 1,289 after World's Largest Softball Tailgate XI. The Illini had seen Nebraska just once before NU joined the Big Ten,fcalling to then-No. 18 Nebraska on Feb. 24, 2006, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. Illinois is 2-8 all time against NU and 0-3 against the Huskers in Lincoln.
HITTING THAT HOT STREAK
After a slow start to the season, the Illini hit their stride in late March by sweeping Indiana after putting up a total of 40 runs over the three-game weekend series on March 28-29. The series sweep launched an about-face to the program, as the Illini went on to win 17 of the next 21 games, including five straight Big Ten weekend series victories.
The recent surge has led to the Illini's best performance in Big Ten play since 2010, sitting in fourth with a 13-7 record and a shot at a first-round bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Sophomore hurler Jade Vecvanags broke the Illini's record for Big Ten victories on April 26 with her conference-leading 12th win. Meanwhile, the Illini offense has put up 190 runs over the past 21 games (an average of 9.0 runs per game), and leads the Big Ten in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, triples, total bases and sacrifice flies during conference play.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Illini offense has produced a school-record 1.88 doubles per game, leading the Big Ten and ranking third in the nation in two-baggers. Junior Allie Bauch is a key contributor to this feat, posting 18 doubles on the year, which ranks second in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation and is one shy of the all-time Illinois record. Additionally, Carly Thomas and Nicole Evans rank fifth in the Big Ten with 14 apiece, and Thomas broke the rookie and Big Ten play records for two-basers as well.
B1G SUCCESS
The Illini are enjoying the most productive Big Ten season offensively in program history, setting team records for batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, RBIs and sacrifice flies with three games still to go on the schedule.
Individually, Carly Thomas, Alyssa Gunther, Allie Bauch, Nicole Evans and Jess Perkins are tearing through the record books. Thomas broke the doubles, RBI and total bases records and currently has the second-best batting average and slugging percentage in Illini history. Perkins surpassed Thomas for the RBI record, while Gunther has tied the triples mark and Perkins and Ruby Rivera have both matched the most sacrifice flies. Thomas, Gunther and Bauch all rank in the top six in batting average, while Thomas, Evans, Perkins and Annie Fleming are in the top 10 in slugging percentage. Additionally, Jade Vecvanags has the most Big Ten wins in Illini history, and ranks second in strikeouts per game.
LOVING THE LONG BALL
The Illini have hit 63 home runs on the season, ranking third in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation, as well as third among single-season totals in Illinois history.
The Illini posted a 13-game home run streak from March 28-April 17, slugging 30 long balls during that stretch. It was the second-longest streak in Illinois history, trailing only the 2007 Illini, who hit 34 homers during a 14-game streak from March 3-25 en route to the nation's most home runs (84).
Sophomore Nicole Evans is leading the charge, as she is second in the Big Ten with 17 home runs, which ranks 31st in the nation and tied for second-most all time at Illinois. Her eight dingers in Big Ten play are one shy of the Illini record and rank ninth all time in Big Ten history.
Additionally, the Illini have hit three grand slams on the year, two by Carly Thomas and one from Allie Bauch, which is the most since 2009.
THOMAS TAKES HOME TWO B1G HONORS
Carly Thomas was named Big Ten Co-Player and Co-Freshman of the Week on April 20 after leading the Illini to three wins and their fourth straight Big Ten series victory. The rookie became the first Illini to earn two Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors since the award began in 2011 and the first ever to collect three weekly honors, as she previously took home Freshman of the Week on March 30.
Thomas led the conference by driving in 10 runs over four games, slugging 1.077 with three doubles and a home run. She collected two hits and at least one RBI in every game, including going 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs in the Wisconsin series finale. Additionally, she hit two doubles with three RBIs and a sacrifice fly in the series opener.
A SEASON FOR THE BOOKS
The 2015 Illini are having one of the best offensive seasons in program history, posting a program-high .332 batting average and .547 slugging percentage while ranking second all time with an on base percentage of .400. The 2015 Illini sit in third all time with 63 home runs, second with 92 doubles, third in total bases, and fourth in runs scored and RBIs. The Illini broke the program record for sacrifice flies on April 18, and have recorded the second-fewest strikeouts ever.
Individually, Allie Bauch ranks in the top 10 in all three averages, sitting in eighth in batting average (.399), sixth in slugging percentage (.702) and seventh in on base percentage (.479). Alyssa Gunther ranks ninth with a .404 batting average, while Nicole Evans' slugging percentage of .733 is good for fifth.
With 17 home runs on the season, Evans is second all time in long balls, while Bauch is second with 18 doubles and the pair are tied for fourth in total bases. Jess Perkins broke the season record for sacrifice flies and Gunther is third with four triples.
CARLY'S KILLING IT
Illini freshman Carly Thomas has exploded offensively during the Orange and Blue's recent tear, leading the Big Ten in slugging percentage and total bases during conference play, and ranking second in batting average and doubles, third in hits and fourth in RBIs. She is among the Illini's all-time leaders during Big Ten play, holding the second-best batting average and slugging percentage, while breaking the all-time doubles, RBI and total bases records. Additionally, she is second all time in hits and third in home runs.
On April 10, Thomas broke the all-time Illini freshman record for home runs with her eighth long ball of the season, and she currently leads all Illini rookies with a .367 batting average and .646 slugging percentage. Additionally, she is second in on base percentage and doubles, and broke the rookie records for RBIs and total bases during the Purdue series.
BEAT THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
Illinois has 24 games scheduled against teams that participated in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, including four opponents that advanced to the Super Regionals.
The Illini have played eight games against four teams that were ranked in the NFCA and ESPN.com polls, with three games against teams that were receiving votes.
According to the NCAA RPI, Illinois has played eight games against top-25 opponents, including two at #7 UCLA. The Illini have 16 games on the schedule against teams in the top 50, with wins over #30 Mississippi State and #34 Northwestern, and a total of 27 against top-100 foes.
The Illini took on then-No. 12/10 Georgia twice on opening weekend, but dropped both contests.
Illinois split a pair of contests with RV Mississippi State, falling 9-8 but bouncing back to hand the Bulldogs their first loss of the season, 4-3. The Bulldogs appeared in the top 25 on March 17.
The Orange and Blue took on No. 13/15 UCLA on their home turf on March 6 and 7, but came up empty in the pair of matchups.
Illinois opened Big Ten play against No. 15 Minnesota, and the three-game series included a fantastic three-hitter pitched by Jade Vecvanags, despite a 3-2 loss in the game.
Illinois faced No. 20 Missouri on March 25 in St. Charles, Missouri. The Illini dropped game one, 17-5, and pouring rain prevented a chance at revenge in the nightcap.
The Illini close the regular season with a three-game series at #47 Nebraska.
Throughout non-conference play, the Illini were scheduled to face teams from 15 different leagues, including three from the powerhouse SEC.
The 2015 slate includes four teams that won their conference last season and four that captured their conference tournament crown.
Of their 52 regular-season games, just 16 will be played at Eichelberger Field, while the remaining 36 are slated to take place away from home.
Illinois' Big Ten draw features five of the top six teams from last season, including Big Ten Co-Champion Nebraska and Big Ten Tournament Champion Minnesota.
FACING FIREPOWER
In addition to facing some of the top teams in the nation, the Fighting Illini have gone up against some of the NCAA's best pitchers. Illinois' batters have faced two of the top-three pitchers in the nation in terms of total strikeouts, seeing #2 Krista Menke (NDSU) and #3 Sara Groenewegen (Minnesota) start four consecutive games from March 17-22, and faced Lilly Fecho (8th) three times on April 24-26. In addition to leading the NCAA in strikeouts, Menke ranks third in shutouts, fifth in wins and 10th in hits allowed per 7 IP.
The Illini took on UCLA's Ally Carda on March 6. A top-three finalist for National Pitcher of the Year in 2014, Carda ranks ninth in the nation in shutouts, 14th in hits allowed per seven innings and 11th in strikeouts per game. Carda and Groenewegen are among the 26 candidates selected as finalists for 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Despite facing all-star firepower, the Illini rank fourth in the nation in doubles, 22nd in slugging percentage, 30th in home runs, 25th in batting average and 37th in runs scored.
TREND-SETTER
Allie Bauch has registered 19 home runs since the start of 2014, 12 of which have led off an inning. In all-but-three of the 18 games that Bauch has homered, a second Illini has also hit a home run, and in 11 of those 15 games, a teammate followed her lead.
MAKING A SACRIFICE
On Feb. 20, Jess Perkins became the first Illini ever to record two sacrifice flies in a single game, doing so against New Mexico. The three sac flies by the team in the game also tied the all-time record set April 27, 2013, at Michigan State.
On April 18, Perkins broke the all-time career record, driving in her eighth sacrifice fly against Wisconsin, while also tying the single-season record with her fourth. Four days later, Perkins drilled her ninth career sac fly, setting a new single-season record with her fifth of the year. The senior has since extended her lead with six this year and a total of 10 for her career.
GOING STREAKING
Heading into the weekend, Allie Bauch is riding a 22-game reached-base streak, the sixth-longest in school history. Nicole Evans and Jess Perkins are not far behind, having reached safely in each of the last 17 games. Evans had the longest hitting streak of the year, hitting safely in 11 straight games from April 3-18, while Carly Thomas has hit safely in 24 of the last 26 games, including an eight-game multi-hit streak from April 10-22.
