CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The RV/No. 22 Fighting Illini softball team continues Big Ten play as they return home to face Wisconsin in a three-game series this weekend at Eichelberger Field. Due to forecasted rain, the schedule has been modified with the Illini and the Badgers set for a doubleheader on Friday (April 28) night beginning at 5 p.m. CT, followed by a single game on Saturday (April 29) at 1 p.m.
The Illini are coming off their third-straight Big Ten Conference series win and fourth overall this season with a pair of victories over Nebraska in Lincoln last weekend. Senior Breanna Wonderly threw a complete game shutout and classmate Ruby Rivera drove in the game's lone run in a 1-0 win on Friday night, before the Illini secured the series with a 5-3 come-from-behind victory on Saturday. The Illini then had their 10-game win streak snapped in a 14-0 five-inning setback on Sunday.
In the most recent NCAA softball RPI, released on Monday (April 24), the Illini came in at No. 21 and were the third-highest team ranked in the Big Ten behind conference leaders Minnesota at No. 11 and Michigan at No. 20. Also highlighting the Top 25 list are Illini opponents No. 4 Auburn, No. 7 Oregon, No. 13 LSU and No. 23 California. Last week, the Illini garnered a season-high ranking of No. 19.
The Illini own a 10-2 mark at Eichelberger Field this season, with the only two losses coming against then-No. 6 Minnesota on March 31 and April 2.
ILLINI NOTES
- After earning a spot in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2011 season last week, the Illini earned another season debut - this time in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll - coming in at No. 22 with 51 votes in the latest poll.
- The Illini dropped out of the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll, but garnered 31 votes - the most votes outside the Top 25.
- The Illini softball team had a successful night at the Fighting Illini Oskee Awards Celebration on Monday (April 24) night, with senior star Nicole Evans garnering the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor and was named a Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year finalist. Junior Jill Nicklas was honored with the 2017 Fighting Illini Spirit Award, while senior Alyssa Gunther was awarded the Leader of Distinction honor. Sophomore Stephanie Abello was recognized for the highest GPA (3.97 in creative writing) among the sophomore class and classmate Kiana Sherlund was named a Female Newcomer of the Year finalist. The Illini softball team as a whole also received the Illini Life Skills Team Competition Award for its commitment to community service.
- With her 15th home run of the season in a win over Butler on April 19, senior Nicole Evans pushed her career total to 50 and moving her within one dinger of Angelena Mexicano's career record of 51.
- The Fighting Illini set their season-long win streak at 10 games with back-to-back victories at Nebraska last Friday and Saturday, but had the streak snapped in a loss on Sunday. Despite this, the Illini have won 20 of their last 23 games, with the other two losses coming at the hands of then-No. 6 Minnesota.
- Individually, junior Leigh Farina owns a 10-game reached base streak and a seven-game reached base streak. For the season, sophomore Stephanie Abello holds both the longest reached-base streak (14 games) and hitting streak (11 games) on the team.
- Senior Nicole Evans registered a .444 batting average on 4-of-9 hitting over four games last week, with one home run to go along with team-highs of four RBI and three walks and two runs scored. She totaled seven bases and posted a .778 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base percentage. Defensively, she notched five putouts for a 1.000 fielding percentage.
- Evans' opened her week by pacing the Illini offense in a win over Butler with a 3-for-4 effort, including knocking her 15th home run of the season to go along with two RBI and a run. With her dinger, Evans pulls within one of tying the career home run record set by Angelena Mexicano at 51. Evans then keyed a 5-3 come-from-behind win over the host Huskers with two RBI, a hit and a run on Saturday. For the weekend, Evans was allowed just five at-bats – the lowest total for an Illini starter – and was walked three times and hit by a pitch once in the series.
- Junior Leigh Farina contined her hot streak, going 5-for-10 with a triple, as well as two runs, an RBI and was the co-leader on the team with seven total bases.
- Sophomore Stephanie Abello had a strong series in Lincoln, batting at a .333 clip with two hits - including one double - with an RBI, three walks and three total bases.
- Senior Breanna Wonderly led the Illini in the circle, going 2-0 (both against Nebraska) with a 3.20 ERA in 15.1 ininngs pitched. She totaled seven strikeouts and two complete games and one shutout on the week.
NEXT UP
Illinois continues its homestand with a midweek contest against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday (May 2) at 5 p.m. CT in Eichelberger Field, before heading north to Evanston, Ill., for a doubleheader against B1G foe Northwestern on Wednesday (May 3) beginning at 2 p.m.
