CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois softball heads to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend (April 2-4) for a four-game series with the Badgers. The Illini look to improve upon a strong 11-5 start to the season with their first true road series of the season. The first three games of the series will be live streamed on BTN+, and Sunday's series finale will be on Big Ten Network beginning at 4pm CT.

Illinois (11-5) vs. Wisconsin (4-12)
When	Friday, April 2 - Sunday, April 4
Where	Madison, Wisconsin
Live Video	BTN + // BTN
Live Stats	Live Stats
Notes	Illinois Notes
2020 Stats	Illinois Stats
Social Media	@IlliniSB  | #Illini  | Facebook  | @IlliniSB  | YouTube

NOTES

• The Illini travel to Madison, Wisconsin for a four-game series with the Badgers on April 2-4. Illinois is 11-5 on the season, and Wisconsin is 4-12.

• This weekend's series against the Badgers will be the first true Big Ten road series for the Illini since April 26-28, 2019 at Ohio State.

• Through the first two weekends in Leesburg, Florida, the Illini led the conference in both ERA (0.84) and batting average (.300). The 0.84 team ERA also led the nation through the first 12 games played.

• Illinois is ranked fourth in the Big Ten conference standings, while Wisconsin is ranked 12^th.

• Illini Utility Kailee Powell leads Illinois in batting average through the first 16 games, hitting .426 in 47 at bats, including a team-high eight extra base hits. Powell also leads the Illini in home runs (2), RBI's (13), slugging percentage (.723), on base percentage (.518), and OPS (1.241).

• Illini second baseman Avrey Steiner leads the team in hits with 24. This is also third in the Big Ten.

• Junior pitcher Sydney Sickels is second in the conference in ERA with a 0.88. Sickels is also third in the conference in strikeouts with 65.

• Sydney Sickels recorded the 14th no-hitter in program history against Penn State on March 13 after an official stat change. Sickels also pitched game one against the Nittany Lions, throwing a complete game one-hitter and taking a perfect game into the 7^th inning. She struck out 10 in each start against Penn State.

• Prior to the Minnesota series, the Illini got off to a 10-2 start through their first 12 games, which marked the best start since 2010.

UP NEXT

Following this weekend's series at Wisconsin, the Illini will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska four another four-game road series against the Huskers on April 9-11.