University of Illinois
Rutgers
@IlliniSB Looks to Continue B1G Success in Weekend Series with Rutgers
March 31, 2016 | Softball
Illini to Host #LaceUp4Cancer Day on Friday, Kids Take over the Ball Park and Camper Reunion Day on Saturday and School Spirit Day on Sunday
| Illinois (21-10, 2-1 Big Ten) vs. Rutgers (15-19, 0-3 Big Ten) | |
|---|---|
| When & Where | April 1-3, 2016 // Friday: 6 p.m. // Saturday: 1 p.m. // Sunday: 12 p.m. // Urbana, Ill. // Eichelberger Field |
| Game Coverage | Live Stats | BTN Plus (Friday, Saturday) | BTN (Sunday) |
| Full Game Notes | Illinois | Rutgers |
| Statistics | Illinois | Rutgers |
| Series History | Illinois leads, 1-0 // Last: 11-1 (6); 2/29/2008 // Streak: Won 1 |
| Social Media | @IlliniSB  | #Illini | Facebook  | @IlliniSB  | YouTube  |
Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini softball team continues its Big Ten home schedule as they welcome in Rutgers for a three-game series this weekend (April 1-3) at Eichelberger Field. Game times are set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday night, 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday. Both Friday and Saturday's contests are set to air on BTN+, while Sunday's game to be aired on BTN.
This weekend's series will be the first-ever Big Ten meeting between the two schools as the Illini have only faced the Scarlett Knights once in program history, a 11-1 six-inning win in 2008.
Despite dropping their Big Ten home opener to then-No. 24 Nebraska last Friday night, the Illini rebounded to take their first Big Ten series with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday with wins of 8-3 and 10-2 in six innings.
With the series win, Illinois ended an impressive streak for the Huskers as NU had not lost a Big Ten road series in the last three seasons until last weekend, with its last league road series lost coming in May of 2012.
Promotions
Friday | #LaceUp4Cancer Day // Collecting donations for Go4theGoal // Gold laces giveaway // Awareness ribbons for those who make donations // DONATE
Saturday | Kids Take over the Park & Camper Reunion Day // Post-game Youth Clinic & autographs // KTOP REGISTRATION // YOUTH CLINIC REGISTRATION
Sunday | School Spirit Day // Greek Homerun Derby
Illini Notes
- Junior pitcher Breanna Wonderly came within one frame of her career-high for innings pitched in a single day as she led the Illini to both Saturday wins in the circle, giving up just five runs in 13 innings of work. It was a big week for the junior as she fanned a career-high 10 batters in a career-high 10 innings in a win over CSUN earlier in the week.
- Junior Alyssa Gunther was dynamite at the plate on Saturday against the Huskers as she went 5-for-7 for a .714 batting average with a double, an RBI and a team-high four runs scored, while classmate Nicole Evans notched seven RBI - including her second career grand slam and her second of the season in game one to go along with her team-leading seventh long ball of the season in game two - and a 1.875 slugging percentage on the day.
- For the sixth time in program history and the first time since 2010, the Fighting Illini have reached 20 wins in the month of March after earning their 20st and 21st victories of the season over Nebraska on Saturday (March 26).
- The Illini's 11-0 five-inning win over East Carolina on March 6 marked an historic occasion for the softball program, as it was the 500th victory in the history of the program. Since its inception in 2000, the Illini have posted a 509-379-2 (.573) record in 17 seasons.
- The Illini, who have posted six run-rule victories (Central Michigan, Penn, East Carolina, IUPUI, Seattle, Nebraska) this season, are outscoring their opponents 187-119 and are averaging over six runs per game.
- The Illini lead the Big Ten Conference with 51 doubles, 15 triples and 428 total bases on the season, while also ranking in the top three in several other offensive categories, including sitting second in batting average (.324), runs (187), hits (272), sacrifice bunts (23) and stolen bases (55) and are third in slugging percentage (.510) and RBI (160).
- With 15 triples in 31 contests, the Illini rank second in the NCAA with 0.48 three-baggers per game. Sophomore Annie Fleming leads the Illini, ranks in a tie for second in the conference and is 10th in the nation with four on the season, while senior Allie Bauch is right behind Fleming with three triples this season to rank in a tie for fourth in the conference and 25th in the NCAA.
- Along with being one of the top offensive units in the Big Ten, the Illini also rank highly in the NCAA and sit in the top 50 in doubles per game (22nd, 1.65), batting average (28th, .324), slugging percentage (.510), stolen bases per game (33rd, 1.77), scoring (34th, 6.03), double plays per game (43rd, 0.42) and win-loss percentage (47th, .677).
- Sophomore Carly Thomas leads the Illini and ranks third in the conference with 41 hits, 11 doubles and 71 total bases, while also pacing the Orange and Blue with a .366 batting average. She also ranks 36th in the country in doubles per game (0.35).
- Thomas has also totaled a team-high 14 mulitple-hit games and currently owns a 10-game reached base streak. She has also posted the longest hitting streak for the Illini at eight games, while senior Remeny Perez and Gunther are both currently riding five-game hitting streaks for the Illini.
- The Illini have been stealthy on the base paths and are 55-for-70 in stolen base attempts with senior Kylie Johnson pacing the Illini with a 12-for-13 mark. Along with Johnson, Illinois has four other players with at-least five stolen bases with Bauch and sophomore Jill Nicklas second on the team with a 7-for-8 mark.
- After opening the 2016 season with a 2-3 mark at the JuiceBlendz FIU Invitational, the Illini rebounded to post winning records at their next three of four non-conference tournaments, including a 3-1 mark in the inaugural Big Ten/ACC Softball Challenge and 4-1 records in their final two tournaments of the season at the USF Under Armour Invitational and the San Diego Classic II.
- In the Illini's season-opening tournament in Miami, Fla., UI registered a 5-1 win over then-No. 10 Florida State on Feb. 13, with the victory over the Seminoles marking the first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 4 Michigan on April 25, 2014 at Eichelberger Field. It was also just the seventh win against a top-10 foe and just the fourth win against a top-10 team not named Michigan.
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers opened Big Ten play at home hosting Penn State, but it was a rough start as the Scarlett Knights were swept 3-0. After a seventh-inning, five-run rally fell short in the opener, 12-8, RU nearly evened the series in an extra inning contest on Saturday, falling 4-1 in nine innings. The Scarlet Knights then fell 12-1 in the finale to close the weekend.
Across the three-game series, junior Carly Todd led the Scarlet Knights with a .444 batting average, followed by sophomore Sierra Maddox with a .400 batting clip in conference action. Senior Stephanie Huang enters the weekend as the Big Ten leader with 45 hits on the season. Senior Dresden Maddox leads the crew in the circle with a 3.83 ERA in 67.2 innings and 6-6 record, ranking 15th in the conference with 48 strikeouts.
Next Up
The Fighting Illini returns to midweek action when they travel to Normal, Ill., for a single game against Illinois State on Tuesday (April 5) at 5 p.m. CT in Marian Kneer Stadium.
