Illini Softball Hosts Minnesota for Home-Opening Weekend

Friday, March 26

Urbana, Ill.

5 PM CT

University of Illinois

Minnesota

Illini Softball Hosts Minnesota for Home-Opening Weekend

March 25, 2021 | Softball

Preview

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Fighting Illini softball team hosts Minnesota for a four-game series this weekend, with the first game beginning at 5pm CT on Friday at Eichelberger Field. The Illini are 10-2 on the season after going 5-1 in each of the first two weekends in Leesburg, Fla., where the Big Ten began the 2021 conference-only season. This will be the first game at Eichelberger Field since May 5, 2019.

At this time, no fans are permitted in accordance with the local health department, campus, and Division of Intercollegiate Athletics COVID-19 operations restrictions. Two direct family members for each Illinois student-athlete will be allowed this weekend. The current policy will continue to be evaluated as the spring season goes along.

Illinois (10-2) vs. Minnesota (9-3)
When	Friday, March 26 - Sunday, March 28
Where	Eichelberger Field
Live Video	BTN+
Live Stats	Live Stats
Notes	Illinois
2020 Stats	Illinois
Social Media	@IlliniSB \| #Illini \| Facebook \| @IlliniSB \| YouTube

NOTES

• The Illini host Minnesota at Eichelberger Field for a four-game series and the home-opening series of the 2021 season. The Illini are 10-2 on the season, while the Gophers are 9-3.

• The Illini have not played a game at Eichelberger Field since May 5th, 2019, when Illinois defeated Purdue, 12-4. Illinois was scheduled to play Bowling Green for the home-opener on March 14, 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in cancelation of the remainder of games for the 2020 season.

• The Illini are 10-2, marking the best start to a season since 2010.

• As a team, the Illini are hitting .300 through the first 12 games. This team batting average leads the Big Ten conference.

• The Illini are second in the nation with a team ERA of 0.84 in 83 innings pitched. The dominant pitching staff is led by Sydney Sickels, who has allowed just one earned run in 37.2 innings this season.

• Illini second baseman Avrey Steiner leads the Illini with a .432 batting average through the first six games of the season. In 44 at bats, Steiner has tallied 19 hits, three extra base hits, eight RBI's, and 23 total bases. She is also third on the team in slugging percentage at .523, trailing only Kailee Powell (.657) and Jaelyn Vickery (.567).

• Steiner's .432 batting average is fourth in the Big Ten conference, and she is tied for the lead in hits (19).

• Kailee Powell is tied for the conference lead in RBI's with 10.

• Junior pitcher Sydney Sickels leads the conference in ERA with a 0.19. Sickels and Illini freshman Tori McQueen are the only pitchers in the conference to have given up just one earned run.

• Sickels pitched back-to-back complete game one hitters against Penn State on March 13, leading the Illini to two wins over the Nittany Lions. Sickels pitched 14 innings, allowing one hit while striking out 20 and not allowing a walk.