University of Illinois
Indiana State
Illini Host Indiana State, Northwestern In Midweek Matchups
April 11, 2022 | Softball
Preview
| Illinois (22-13, 6-2 B1G) vs. Indiana State (18-17, 5-7 MVC) and #9 Northwestern (27-6, 8-1 B1G) | |
|---|---|
| When & Where |
Indiana State: Tuesday, April 12 // 5:00 p.m. CT // Eichelberger Field Northwestern (DH): Wednesday, April 13 // 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. CT // Eichelberger Field |
| Tickets | Free Admission |
| Game 36: Indiana State | Tuesday, April 12 // 5:00 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: B1G+ |
| Game 37/38: Northwestern | Wednesday, April 13 // 4:00/6:30 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: Big Ten Network (both games) |
| Team Information | Illinois // Indiana State // Northwestern |
| 2022 Season Stats | Illinois // Indiana State // Northwestern |
| Social Media | @IlliniSB  | #Illini | @IlliniSB  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
ILLINI HOST INDIANA STATE, BIG TEN RIVAL NORTHWESTERN IN MIDWEEK CONTESTS
Entering the week with a six-game winning streak, the Fighting Illini softball team looks to continue their momentum during the midweek, hosting Indiana State on Tuesday evening and a Wednesday night Big Ten doubleheader against in-state rival and ninth-ranked Northwestern set to be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
ILLINI SWEEP BADGERS FOR SECOND BIG TEN SERIES WIN
Illinois went a perfect 5-0 last week after run-rule victories over SIUE (8-0) and Illinois State (11-3) in the midweek. The Illini then opened conference play at Eichelberger Field by sweeping the three-game set with the Badgers. The series started on Saturday with a doubleheader where sophomore Tori McQueen tossed back-to-back complete games to down the Badgers by scores of 4-1 and 4-2. On Sunday, the Illini picked up a 7-1 victory over Wisconsin thanks to a five-run fifth inning. Overall, the Illini pitching staff gave up just six runs across five games last week.
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE
The Sycamores are 18-17 overall with a record of 5-7 in the MVC. Indiana State is coming off of a weekend sweep by Missouri State, and also lost last weekend's three-game set with Illinois State. Isabella Henning leads the Sycamores in average (.373) and has amassed 27 RBI on the season, also leading the team, while Bella Peterson has launched six home runs this season. In the circle, Lexi Benko has done the majortity of pitching for the Sycamores, tossing 121 innings with a team-leading 2.37 ERA and 66 strikeouts.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats sit in second place in the Big Ten with a conference record of 8-1 and an overall record of 27-6. Ranked ninth in the country by USA TODAY/NFCA, Northwestern comes into the Wednesday night doubleheader with a three-game winning streak after a sweep of Ohio State over the weekend. Northwestern has three players with 30+ RBI on the season, with Jordyn Rudd leading the way with a team-leading 36 RBI and a .365 average. Rachel Lewis, a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection last season, has hit 14 home runs on the season and is slugging at a .814 clip. In the circle, Danielle Williams leads the Wildcats with a 1.39 ERA over 131 innings pitched, and is holding hitters to a conference low .150 hitting percentage and has struck out 196 batters, good for second in the conference.
ILLINI IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
(Rankings as of Monday, April 11)
Team
Batting Average: .323 (1st B1G, 17th NCAA)
Doubles: 68 (1st B1G, 6thth NCAA)
Doubles per game: 1.94 (1st B1G, 3rd NCAA)
Slugging Percentage: .465 (5th B1G, 56th NCAA)
Individual
Megan Ward: 13 doubles (4th B1G, 15th NCAA), 0.37 doubles per game (3rd B1G, 20th NCAA)
Avrey Steiner: .421 BA (5th B1G, 38th NCAA), 51 hits (2nd B1G, 16th NCAA)
Tori McQueen: 6.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio (3rd B1G, 30th NCAA), 9.8 strikeouts per seven (3rd B1G, 33rd NCAA)
Bella Loya: 24.0 Toughest to Strike out (1st B1G, 19th NCAA)
PERRY EARNS 200TH CAREER WIN AS FIGHTING ILLINI HEAD COACH
In Illinois' game one victory over Wisconsin last Saturday (April 9), head coach Tyra Perry earned her 200th win as head coach of the Fighting Illini. This is the second wins milestone coach Perry has passed this season, after gaining her 600th career win over Liberty in March.
SICKELS MOVES TO SECOND ON ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS LIST
With 472 career strikeouts, senior Sydney Sickels now ranks second all-time in Illinois history in strikeouts, passing Amanda Fortune's 470 strikeouts set from 2001-04. She entered the year third on the all-time list and is chasing Illinois' all-time strikeouts leader Pepper Gay with 592 from 2010-13.
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,
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.
