CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois softball team will kick off the 2021 conference-only campaign this weekend as the Illini travel to the Sleepy Hallow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida to play three doubleheaders against three Big Ten opponents for a total of six games. The Illini will square off with Rutgers for two games on Friday, Maryland for two games on Saturday, and will wrap up the weekend with two more against Michigan on Sunday. Friday's season opener against Rutgers will begin at 9:20 am CT, and all games throughout the weekend will be streamed on BTN+.
NOTES
- The Illini will begin the 2021 B1G-only slate this weekend in Leesburg, Florida, playing doubleheaders against Rutgers, Maryland, and Michigan.
- The 2020 season marked the 21st season for the Illinois softball program. The Illini went 11-11 in their first 22 games before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illini have not played a game at Eichelberger Field since May 5, 2019.
- The last Illinois softball game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Illini over No. 23 Missouri. This game marked the third ranked win of the season, after previously beating No. 21 Ole Miss and No. 23 Auburn at the 2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
- Excluding the shortened 2020 season, the Illini have reached at least 33 wins in each of head coach Tyra Perry's first five seasons. This marks just the second time in program history that the Illini have registered a four-year span with at least 33 wins in each season after notching wins of 49, 34, 39 and 45, respectively, from 2001-04.
- Head coach Tyra Perry enters her 20th season as an NCAA Division I head coach and sixth at the helm of the Illinois softball program. Perry owns a 565-485-1 (.538) career record and is 156-97 (.617) in five seasons at Illinois.
- The Illini return 18 members from the 2020 squad, including eight starters and four pitchers. Illinois welcomes two graduate transfers in Kelsie Packard and Lakyn Wagoner, as well as four freshmen in Jesse Damery, Tori McQueen, Abby Ryniec, and Breana Shorter.
- Avrey Steiner led the team with a .338 batting average through 22 games last season as a true freshman. She also led the team in on base percentage at .365, hits with 24, runs with 14, and was fourth in slugging at .408.
- Senior catcher Bella Loya started 20 of 21 games either behind the plate or as the DH for the Illini during 2020 in her junior season. Loya posted a .302 batting average, leading the team in doubles, total bases, and slugging percentage at .476. She was also recognized as an Illinois Athletics Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalist for the second consecutive year.
- Junior pitcher Sydney Sickels had an excellent sophomore season, pitching a team-high 70.2 innings with a 2.38 ERA in 16 appearances, including 11 starts. Sickels earned B1G Pitcher of the Week honors (2/10) and was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team. During her sophomore campaign, she also recorded two shutouts and 82 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Illini are off next weekend before heading back to the Sleepy Hallow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida, to play six more games from March 11-14. Illinois will play three games against Michigan State, followed by three games against Penn State, before returning back to campus sites for the remainder of the season.
