CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The RV/RV Fighting Illini softball team will head to SEC Country for the second weekend in a row, traveling to Fayetteville, Ar. for the 2022 Razorback Invitational. The Illini will take on host #10/10 Arkansas twice on the weekend (Fri., Sun.), and will also have matchups against Wichita State (Fri.) Western Illinois and Longwood (Sat.).
ILLINI NOTES
- The Illini opened the season with a 4-1 record, starting off with wins against Central Arkansas (x2) and South Alabama before capping off the weekend with a 5-2 victory over #14/15 LSU.
- Illinois faces tough competition this weekend at the Razorback Invitational, facinign off against #10/10 Arkansas twice while also facing #25/RV Wichita State once.
- Following her successful weekend in the circle, freshman right hander Lauren Wiles was named B1G Freshman of the Week after a 2-1 record this past weekend, striking out 20 batters and pitching to a 0.82 ERA (2 ER in 17.0 IP).
- The Ilini began to crack into the rankings this week, receiving votes in both the USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches poll and the ESPN/USA Softball poll, while being ranked 25th by D1 Softball and 24th by Softball America. Extra Innings Softball also ranked the Illini 22nd in the nation.
- Junior Kelly Ryono was efficient at the plate for the Illini last weekend, hitting .615 in five games with eight hits, two doubles, three runs batted in, and scoring three runs herself.
LSU TIGER CLASSIC RECAP
Illinois began the 2022 LSU Tiger Classic defeating Central Arkansas 9-0 on Friday afternoon, before falling to #14/15 LSU 4-2 in the nightcap. On Saturday, Illinois defeated South Alabama 3-2 behind strong pitching from Lauren Wiles (7.0 IP, 11 SO), while the Illini earned their first walk off win of the season in the second game against Central Arkansas, with senior Kailee Powell smashing a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Bears 2-1. Illinois capped off the weekend with a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over #14/15 LSU after scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning.
TOP PERFORMERS FROM TIGER CLASSIC
- Junior Kelly Ryono (.615 BA, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 10 TB).
- Graduate Student Bella Loya (.462 BA, 6 H, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 7 TB)
- Freshman Stevie Meade (3 RBI)
- Senior Kailee Powell (3 RBI, 1 HR, 10 TB)
- Freshman Lauren Wiles (2-1, 17.0 IP, 0.82 ERA, 20 SO)
- Senior Sydney Sickels (1-0, 1.56 ERA, 9.0 IP, 8 SO)
ILLINI IN THE POLLS
Illinois began to crack into the rankings following a 4-1 weekend that included a win over #14/15 LSU. Here's where the Illini rank in the four major polls heading into week two:
USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches Poll: RV
ESPN/USA Softball: RV
D1 Softball: 25
Softball America: 24
WILES EARNS B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
After a standout opening weekend, freshman pitcher Lauren Wiles was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week as announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. Wiles led the team in innings pitched this past weekend at the LSU Tiger Classic, throwing to a 0.82 ERA in 17.0 innings while only allowing two earned runs and striking out 20 batters. In Illinois' game vs. South Alabama last Saturday, Wiles earned her first career win as an Illini, striking out 11 batters in the first complete game of her career. She earned her second win of the weekend at LSU on Sunday, coming in as relief and tossing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks head into the weekend ranked No. 10 in both the USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches poll and the ESPN/USA Softball poll. Arkansas went 3-2 opening weekend with victories over Rutgers, Memphis, and Long Beach State and two setbacks to then seventh-ranked Washington. Taylor Ellsworth currently leads the team in RBI's (5) while Danielle Gibson leads in BA (.533) and hits (8). Mary Haff led the team in IP (13.1) while recording nine strikeouts, and Chenise Delce leads the staff with a 3.09 ERA.
SCOUTING LONGWOOD
The Lancers went 1-4 on opening weekend, opening their season at the CFX Classic hosted by UCF. Longwood defeated Fresno State in their season-opener, but dropped four straight to Georgia, Minnesota, and UCF. Alexis Wayland and Lauren Taylor hold the team lead in RBI's (4), while Emily Vinson leads the team in hits (7) and BA (.500). Sydney Backstrom tossed 13 innings last weekend to a 6.46 ERA and 17 SO, while Reagan Kanagawa leads the staff in ERA (5.44).
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks of the Missouri Valley conference hold a 2-4 overall record heading into the Razorback Invitational, opening their season last weekend at the Rosemont Dome Tournament. WIU fell to Bowling Green, Ball State, and Butler to begin their season, before bouncing back to defeat Western Michigan and Ball State while also falling to Murray State. Kayla Zamora leads the team in BA (.316) and hits (6), while Piper Foote has raked in a team-leading four RBI's. Lili Weir leads the team with a 0.91 ERA, while Savannah Rodriguez has struck out 12 batters on the season to lead the team.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
The Shockers of the AAC are ranked 25th in the nation by USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches, while also receiving votes from the ESPN/USA Softball poll, going 4-1 at the Bearkat Classic including wins against Dayton, Sam Houston State x 2, Houston Baptist, and a setback to South Dakota. Sydney McKinney owns a team-leading .600 BA with nine hits, two home runs, and six RBI's, while the Shockers as a team have hit 11 total home runs on the season. Kenzie Schopfer owns a team-leading 2.80 ERA, while Erin McDonald has tossed 12.1 innings this season, striking out 17 batters.
LOOKING AHEAD
Illinois will have a bye weekend next week before traveling to Louisville and Clemson to wrap up the opening month of softball.
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