University of Illinois
Liberty
Illini Head East for Clemson Tiger Invitational
March 10, 2022 | Softball
Preview
| Clemson Tiger Invitational | |
|---|---|
| When & Where | Mar. 12-13 // Clemson, S.C. // McWhorter Stadium // Tournament Central |
| Tickets | Buy Here |
| Game 15: Liberty | Saturday, March 12 // 10:00 a.m. CT Live Stats |
| Game 16: Clemson | Saturday, March 12 // 3:00 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: ACC Network Extra |
| Game 17: Liberty | Sunday, March 13 // 9:00 a.m. CT Live Stats |
| Game 18: Clemson | Sunday, March 13 // 11:30 a.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: ACC Network Extra |
| Illinois Notes | G15-18: Clemson Tiger Invitational Notes |
| Team Information | Illinois // Clemson // Liberty |
| 2022 Season Stats | Illinois // Clemson // Liberty |
| Social Media | @IlliniSB  | #Illini | @IlliniSB  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
ILLINI HEAD EAST FOR CLEMSON TIGER INVITATIONAL
The Fighting Illini softball team is set to fly east to Clemson, S.C. to participate in the Tiger Invitational hosted by Clemson University. The Illini will take on #17/15 Clemson and RV Liberty twice each on the weekend. Both Clemson games are set to be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
ILLINI NOTES
•Illinois went 3-1 at the Louisville Cardinal Classic on Mar. 4-6, shutting out Hofstra, Western Michigan, and Louisville while also falling to Louisville.
•The Illini shutout all three opponents in the three wins last weekend, including finishing two games (Louisville, Western Michigan) in five innings.
•Following a red-hot weekend at the plate in Louisville, freshman Stevie Meade was tabbed B1G Co-Freshman of the Week on Mar. 8.
LOUISVILLE CARDINAL CLASSIC RECAP
Illinois began the weekend by shutting out Louisville 8-0, finishing the game in five innings behind 10 hits from the Illini lineup and a combined shutout by Sydney Sickels and Lauren Wiles. On Saturday, sophomore pitcher Tori McQueen tossed her best game in the Orange and Blue, throwing seven scoreless innings while giving up just two hits, no walks, and a career-high 15 strikeouts to lead Illinois to an 8-0 victory. The second game of the day against Louisville saw the two teams trade the lead with huge scoring runs before Louisville knocked a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Illinois responded in dominant fashion on Sunday, defeating Western Michigan 9-0 in five innings behind five scoreless innings from Sickels and five RBIs from Jaelyn Vickery.
TOP PERFORMERS FROM CARDINAL CLASSIC
•Freshman Stevie Meade (7-for-13, 4 2B, 4 RBI)
•Redshirt Sophomore Jaelyn Vickery (4-for-9, 2 3B, 1 Grand Slam, 5 RBI)
•Junior Delaney Rummell (6 RBI, 1 Grand Slam)
•Sophomore LHP Tori McQueen (8.2 IP, 17 SO, 15 SO vs. Hofstra)
•Senior RHP Sydney Sickels (10.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 15 SO)
MEADE TABBED B1G CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
After a stellar weekend at the 2022 Louisville Cardinal Classic, freshman outfielder Stevie Meade was tabbed Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week by the conference office Tuesday (March 8) afternoon.
Meade went 7-for-13 (.538) at the plate in four games at the 2022 Louisville Cardinal Classic, knocking four doubles and four RBIs. Meade also notched a walk and a stolen base on the weekend, while not striking out in her 13 at-bats.
Meade is Illinois' second freshman of the week honoree after Lauren Wiles earned the honor on Feb. 14 of this season.
SCOUTING CLEMSON
The No. 17/15 Clemson Tigers sit with a 13-6 overall record on the season, but are coming off a weekend sweep by No. 6/6 Virginia Tech to open ACC conference play. Marquee wins for the Tigers include victories over then No. 6/5 Washington and then No. 18/17 Tennessee, but are 0-2 against Big Ten opponents this season after dropping contests to Northwestern and Wisconsin. At the plate, Valerie Cagle leads Clemson with 16 RBIs, five home runs and a .617 slugging percentage. Cagle also leads the team in the circle, striking out 61 batters on the season so far with a 2.41 ERA over 49.1 innings pitched.
SCOUTING LIBERTY
RV Liberty holds a 14-6 overall record, and are winners of eight straight contests heading into the weekend. After starting the season 0-5, Liberty has gone on to go 14-1 over their past 15 games. During that time, the Flames hold a 4-2 record against Big Ten opponents this season. At the plate, Devyn Howard leads the team with a .379 average with 22 hits, while Caroline Hudson leads the team with 15 RBIs and gour home runs. In the circle, Karlie Keeny has done the most work this season tossing 61.1 innings to the tune of a 2.17 ERA, six complete games, two shutouts, and 27 strikeouts.
2022 OUTLOOK
Illinois returns 18 letter winners and seven position starters to the 2022 roster, and welcomed eight new members of the Illini family this season. All-B1G honorees Kailee Powell, Delaney Rummell, Avrey Steiner, and Jaelyn Vickery also return to the diamond for the Illini this season.
2021 IN REVIEW
• The Illinois softball team completed the season with a 24-20 record in the B1G conference-only schedule.
• Illinois started the season with two weekends in Leesburg, Fla., posting a 10-2 record with series victories over Rutgers, Michigan State, Penn State, and a doubleheader sweep over No. 17 Michigan.
• The Illini earned seven series wins in 2021, including two wins over ranked opponents, and were the only team to not be beaten by the eventual Big Ten champions (Michigan).
• Junior Sydney Sickels tossed the 14th no-hitter in Illinois softball history in the second game of a doubleheader vs. Penn State on Mar. 13, 2021.
• Illinois ranked top three in the Big Ten in batting average (.276) and hits (324).
• Juniors Kailee Powell (First, All-Defensive), Avrey Steiner (Second), Freshman Jaelyn Vickery (Second, All-Freshman), and Sophomore Delaney Rummell (Second) earn All-Big Ten honors.
• Junior Avery Steiner was named to the NFCA Midwest All-Region First Team.
2022 SCHEDULE
After the Big Ten conference-only schedule in 2021, the Illini return to nonconference play this season, squaring off with high quality competition as is tradition under head coach Tyra Perry. Illinois will play 12 opponents who made the 2021 NCAA Tournament (LSU, South Alabama, Wichita St., Arkansas, Liberty, Clemson, Missouri, Georgia, SIUE, Minnesota, Northwestern, Louisiana-Lafyette) and 10 opponents who are ranked or recieving votes in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. The Big Ten slate begins with a trip to Purdue on Mar. 25-27, while the Illini will also play host to the Braggin' Rights double-header vs. Missouri on Mar. 15, which doubles as the home opener at Eichelberger Field.
ILLINI IN THE RECORD BOOK
Heading into the 2022 campaign, several Illini rank in the top-10 in program history in multiple statistical categories, with a chance to climb up the all-time list this season.
• Graduate Student Bella Loya currently ranks eighth on the all-time batting average list with a career .335 average, while also ranking sixth in slugging percentage (.574) and tenth in on base percentage (.406). She also ranks tenth all-time in home runs (28) and RBIs (117). She also has the sixth highest fielding percentage in Illini history (.989) and ranks eighth in putouts (598).
• Senior Sydney Sickels currently ranks fourth all-time in ERA (2.80), third in opponent batting average (.230), and ranks first in K/7 (6.77). Sickels is also first all-time in saves (13), seventh in wins (38), eighth in appearances (89), seventh in games started (63), tied for fifth in complete games (33), tied for fifth in shutouts (9), seventh in innings pitched (387.2), and fifth in strikeouts (375).
• Senior Kailee Powell currently ranks fourth all-time in fielding percentage (.990).
NEWCOMERS
Illinois welcomes eight newcomers to the 2022 roster, including freshmen Zoe Caryl, Halle Mangurten, Stevie Meade, Macy Krohman, Paige Berkmeyer, Lauren Wiles, and Zoie Howard, while also welcoming in Dayton transfer Megan Ward,
LOOKING AHEAD
Illinois will wrap up their non-conference tournament schedule next weekend, heading to Athens, Georgia for the UGA Classic, but not before the 2022 home opener hosting Missouri for a double header on Mar. 15.
FOLLOW THE #ILLINI
For the latest news and information on Fighting Illini softball, follow @IlliniSB on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and tune in to fightingillini.com.
