Big Ten Tournament | Game 54: No. 6 Illinois (36-17, 13-8 B1G) vs. No. 11 Maryland (18-36, 7-16 B1G)
When & Where	May 10-12, 2018 // Thursday: 1:30 p.m. CT // Goodman Softball Complex // Madison, Wis.
Game Coverage	Live Stats // TV: BTN | BTN2Go.com // Live Audio: WDWS 1400 | Tournament Central
Full Game Notes	Illinois
Statistics	Illinois | Maryland
Series History	Illinois leads, 8-2 // Last: W, 20-2 (5); 4/8/2018; Urbana, Ill. // Streak Won 6
Tickets	Ticket Information
Social Media	@IlliniSB | #Illini | Facebook | @IlliniSB | YouTube

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After wrapping up the regular season with its fifth conference series win of the season last weekend, the Illinois softball team sets its sights on the 2018 Big Ten Softball Tournament, hosted by the University of Wisconsin on May 10-12 in Madison, Wis. The sixth-seeded Illini will face 11th seed Maryland in the first round on Thursday (May 10) at 1:30 p.m. CT at the Goodman Softball Complex.

ILLINI NOTES

• The Illini own a 10-15 overall record in the annual tournament and advanced to the semifinals as the No. 4 seed last season with a 3-0 win over 12th seeded Penn State in the quarterfinals, before falling to No. 1 seeded Minnesota, 6-5, on a walk-off home run in the seventh inning.
• The Illini earned the sixth seed in the Big Ten Tournament for the fifth time in program history (2002, 2007, 2008, 2013) and hold a 2-5 record as the sixth seed. UI earned a program-best second seed in 2004, with that season's runner-up finish also representing the best finish at the Big Ten Tournament in program history.
• The Illini have won five Big Ten Conference series this season - including sweeps of Maryland and Iowa - as well as series victories over Purdue, Penn State and Nebraska. UI also split with Northwestern in a midweek doubleheader.
• The Illini concluded the regular season with an overall record of 36-17 for the second-straight season and registered a sixth place finish in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 13-8 mark. The Illini finished the season winning 11 of their final 13 contests of 2018.
• The Illini tallied one of their best home seasons in program history with a 15-2 record at Eichelberger Field in 2018, including posting the second-highest win percentage and most victories in program history.
• In the most recent NCAA softball RPI that was released on Monday (May 7), the Illini came in at the No. 58 spot and rank as the seventh-highest team in the RPI rankings. No. 27 Ohio State leads the conference, with No. 28 Minnesota, No. 30 Michigan, No. 38 Northwestern, No. 40 Nebraska and No. 46 Wisconsin sitting ahead of the Illini.
• The 2018 season marks the 19th season for the Illinois softball program, with the Illini just two wins from recording the program's 600th victory with a 598-428-2 (.583) overall record. In Big Ten conference action, the Illini also hold a 195-170 (.534) mark.
• The Illinois softball team continued its growth in 2017 under third-year head coach Tyra Perry, finishing the year with a 39-20 overall record, tying for the fourth-most wins in program history and making their second-straight NCAA Regional appearance and sixth overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Illini registered a top-four finish in the Big Ten Conference with a 14-8 mark, while also advancing to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2004.
• The Illini registered back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances for the first time since 2009-10 and are looking to make history in 2018 with a third-straight appearance, which would be a first for the program.

QUINTET OF ILLINI SELECTED FOR BIG TEN POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

• The Illini had six student-athletes collect postseason accolades when the Big Ten Conference announced its All-Big Ten honors on Wednesday (May 9). Juinor Kiana Sherlund was a unanimous First-Team selection, with redshirt-junior Carly Thomas joining her as a First-Team selection and was also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Senior Maddi Doane and junior Stephanie Abello each earned second-team plaudits, while rookie Bella Loya was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and junior Taylor Edwards was honored as Illinois' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.

ILLINI FINISH OFF REGULAR SEASON WITH SERIES WIN OVER NEBRASKA

• The Illini earned their fifth Big Ten Conference series win of the season after taking two of three against the Huskers in the final weekend of the regular season.
• The Illini opened the series with a come-from-behind 5-4 walk-off win over the Huskers on Friday night (May 4) as senior Maddi Doane drove in the game-winning run on an RBI singel through the right side in the bottom of the seventh to score freshman pinch runner Rhein Trochim from second base.
• The Orange and Blue then clinched the series with a 6-2 victory over Nebraska in front of 1,071 fans – the sixth-largest crowd in Eichelberger Field history – on Saturday (May 5). The Illini held its annual World's Largest Softball Tailgate prior the game, before celebrating their senior class following the win. Illinois then dropped its regular season finale, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon. 

LAST WEEK STATS

• Redshirt-junior Carly Thomas registered a .385 batting average with five hits – with three of those going as home runs – as well as a team-high six RBI, three runs and 14 total bases. She notched three walks and a stolen base, while also posting a 1.077 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage. Defensively, she owned a 1.000 fielding percentages with eight putouts. 
• Thomas started off her week with a 2-for-3 performance with two home runs and four RBI in a win over IUPUI on Tuesday, before knocking hits in each of the Illini's three games against the Huskers – including launching a two-run home run in Sunday's game against Nebraska.
• Freshman Bella Loya posted the second-highest batting average on the week for the Illini with a .429 clip after posting six hits – including one home run – to go along with three RBI, two runs and nine total bases. She registered a .643 slugging percentage and a .467 on-base percentage, while owning a 1.000 fielding percentage with 21 putouts after playing two different positions (catcher on Tuesday, first base in all three-games over the weekend). 
• The freshman opened her week with a pair of hits, an RBI, a home run and a run in a win over IUPUI,  before adding two RBI and a hit in the Illini's series-opening win over the Huskers on Friday night. She continued her strong play at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort plus a run scored on Saturday and added a hit and a walk on Sunday. 
• Junior Emily Oestreich registered a 1.37 ERA after allowing just three earned runs in 15.1 innings with a 1-1 record in three appearances and two games started. Against the Huskers on Saturday, Oestreich gave up just three hits and five walks and struck out one in 7.0 scoreless innings. She started the game and threw the first six frames, before being relieved in the seventh. After reliever Erin Walk failed to get an out, Oestreich reentered the game and secured the win with three-straight outs.

SHERLUND SETS SEASON RECORD FOR HITS, TRIPLES

• With three hits in a win over Nebraska on Friday, junior Kiana Sherlund broke the single-season hits record and currently owns 80 knocks on the season. Former Illini and current Wisconsin assistant coach Danielle Zymkowitz previously held the record with 76 hits during the 2010 season.
• Sherlund also set a new season record earlier this year with her eighth three-bagger of the season coming in a win over Eastern Illinois on April 25. Sherlund bested Rachelle Coriddi's record of seven triples set during the 2005 season. 

DINGERS FOR DAYS

• The Illini have registered 49 home runs this season and have knocked eight home runs in their last 13 games - including posting four multiple-home run games in the last eight contests. UI also posted an eight-game span of knocking at least one home run in each game that ran from the second contest against Missouri on March 14 to SIUE on March 21. 
• The Illini have registered mulitple home runs in 14 games in 2018, including knocking a season-high five dingers in game one against UIC on March 21 and notching six contests with three homers.
• Senior Maddi Doane, redshirt-junior Carly Thomas and freshman Bella Loya pace the Illini with nine home runs and ranks tied for 12th in the Big Ten.
• Junior Kiana Sherlund is fourth on the team with six dingers, with four of her long balls going for grand slams. 

SHERLUND & THOMAS LEADING THE ILLINI OFFENSE

• Junior Kiana Sherlund and redshirt-junior Carly Thomas have been offensive catalysts for the Illini this season with the duo leading the squad and ranking in the top 10 of the Big Ten with Sherlund sitting tied for third with a .404 average and Thomas ranking 10th with a .369 clip, while also ranking in the top five in the conference in runs, hits, RBI and total bases.
• Sherlund paces the conference with 80 hits, eight triples and 121 total bases, as well as sitting second with 52 runs, fourth with 47 RBI, tied for eighth with 15 stolen bases and 15th with a .441 on base percentage.
• Thomas ranks second in the league with four sacrifice flies, as well as sitting fourth with 65 hits, 17 doubles, and 113 total bases, fifth with 47 runs and 46 RBI, 10th with a .642 slugging percentage, 12th with nine home runs and two triples and 15th with 11 stolen bases.
• Sherlund's eight three-baggers this season ranks third in the nation, with her 0.15 triples per game sitting fourth in the NCAA.
• With 17 doubles on the season, Thomas ranks in a tie for fourth all-time in program history for two-baggers in a season.
• Sherlund also ranks fourth in the nation in hits, as well as 26th in total bases, 28th in runs per game (0.98) and 57th in batting average, while Thomas ranks 16th in the country in doubles, as well as 37th in doubles per game (0.32), 38th in sacrifice flies, 41st in total bases, 48th in hits and 65th in runs per game (0.89).
• Sherlund owns a team-high 26 multiple-hit games - including seven three-hit contests and two four-hit game - while also totaling a team-high 12 multiple-RBI games this season, highlighted by two five-RBI efforts against Penn State on April 28 and Maryland on April 8 as well as four-RBI performances in wins over Murray State on March 3 and UIC on March 20.
• Thomas also owns a team-high 12 multiple RBI games with two three RBI games and three four RBI games this season.

ILLINI AT THE PLATE

• The Illini lead the Big Ten in eight offensive categories, including batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.496), runs scored (344), hits (486), RBI (307), doubles (83), triples (15) and total bases (746), while also sitting second in HBPs (41) and third on-base percentage (.395) and in home runs (49).
• In league action, the Illini lead with 40 doubles and 286 total bases, while also ranking second in runs (151), hits (190), stolen bases (32) and HPBs (19) and third in batting average (.311) and RBI (132).
• The Illini owns one of the top-ranked offenses in the nation, ranking sixth in the country with 6.49 runs per game and eighth with a .323 batting average. The Illini also rank in the top 50 nationally in doubles per game (15th, 1.57), slugging percentage (16th, .496), on base percentage (26th, .392), triples per game (27th, 0.28) and home runs per game (44th, 0.92).
• Defensively, the Illini also rank 25th in the nation with 0.45 double plays per game. 
• Junior Kiana Sherlund currently owns a team-leading 13-game reached base streak, with Thomas right behind her with a 12-game reached base streak. Thomas also has the longest of the season for the Illini at 24 games, while freshman Bella Loya owns the longest hitting streak  of the season at 15 games. Currently, Loya also leads the Illini with a eight-game hitting streak.