CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois softball hosts Purdue this weekend (April 16-18) for a four-game series with the Boilermakers. The Illini return home to Eichelberger Field following back-to-back road series with Wisconsin and Nebraska. All of the games this weekend will be live streamed on BTN+, with the first game of the series beginning Friday, April 16 at 5:00 pm CT.
Note: A limited number of families and approved guests will be allowed at home games. Consistent with Champaign County public health guidelines on social distancing at outdoor events, no general public admission will be permitted at this time. The current policy will continue to be evaluated as the spring season goes along.
NOTES
• The Illini host Purdue at Eichelberger Field for a four-game series with the Boilermakers on April 16-18. Illinois is 15-9 on the season, and Purdue is 7-17.
• This weekend's series against the Boilermakers will be the second series at Eichelberger Field this season. The Illini dropped the first series of the season to Minnesota, going 1-3 (March 26-28).Â
• Illinois is ranked fourth in the Big Ten conference standings, while Purdue is ranked 12th.
• Avrey Steiner has reached base safely in 15 consecutive games dating back to Michigan State (3/12).
• Sydney Sickels threw 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 7th inning. She struck out 10 in each start against Penn State.
• Sydney Sickels earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season following two impressive performances at Wisconsin (4/2 & 4/4). The junior pitched 14.0 innings, picking up two complete game shutout wins and striking out 24 while giving up just six hits.
• Illini second baseman Avrey Steiner leads Illinois in batting average through 24 games, hitting .416 in 89 at bats, including a team-high 37 hits. Steiner's 37 hits also leads the Big Ten.
• Utility player Kailee Powell leads the Illini in doubles (8), RBI (17), slugging percentage (.616), on base percentage (.459), and is tied with OF Jaelyn Vickery for the team-high in runs scored (17).
• Junior pitcher Sydney Sickels is second in the conference in ERA with a 0.86, and third in the conference in strikeouts with 97.
• As a team, the Illini lead the conference in hits (191), rank third in the conference in batting average (.291), and are fourth in runs scored (105).
• Through the first 12 games of the season, the Illini got off to a 10-2 start, which marked the best 12-game start to a season since 2010.Â
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's series against Purdue, the Illini are back at Eichelberger Field for a four-game series (April 23-25) against Indiana.
