University of Illinois
Rutgers
Illini Head to Rutgers for Three-Game Set
April 14, 2022 | Softball
Preview
| Illinois (23-13, 6-2 B1G) at Rutgers (23-19, 1-8 B1G) | |
|---|---|
| When & Where | April 15-17 // Rutgers Softball Complex // Piscataway, N.J. |
| Tickets | FREE ADMISSION |
| Game 37: Rutgers | Friday, April 15 // 2:00 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: B1G+ |
| Game 38: Rutgers | Saturday, April 16 // 2:00 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: B1G+ |
| Game 39: Rutgers | Sunday, April 17 // 12:00 p.m. CT Live Stats // Live Video: B1G+ |
| Illinois Notes | G37-39: Rutgers Notes |
| Team Information | Illinois // Rutgers |
| 2022 Season Stats | Illinois // Rutgers |
| Social Media | @IlliniSB  | #Illini | @IlliniSB  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
ILLINI HEAD EAST FOR THREE-GAME SET AT RUTGERS
Entering the weekend on a seven game winning streak and a four-game Big Ten winning streak, the Fighting Illini softball team is set to head to Rutgers for the first time in program history for a three-game set against the Scarlet Knights Friday (April 15) to Sunday (April 17). First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. CT on both Friday (4/15) and Saturday (4/16), while a 12:00 p.m. CT first pitch on Easter Sunday (4/17) will wrap the weekend up. All games will be available to stream live on B1G+.
ILLINI SURGE PAST SYCAMORES
The Fighting Illini softball team used a strong outing from senior Sydney Sickels and base hits from seven different players to down Indiana State 5-0 Tuesday evening at Eichelberger Field.
Illinois (23-13, 6-2 B1G) was led by a two-hit shutout from Sickels, who struck out 10 batters on the evening while walking just one batter. At the plate, seven different Illini notched hits in the game, with junior Kelly Ryono tallying two RBI's and a double in the contest, while senior Avrey Steiner, redshirt junior Danielle Davis, and freshman Paige Berkmeyer added two-baggers in the game.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers heads into the weekend with a 1-8 conference record, third to last in the conference, but boast a 23-19 overall record on the season. Kyleigh Sand (.412 AVG, 54 H) and Gabrielle Callaway (8 HR, 40 RBI) lead the Scarlet Knights at the plate, while the Rutgers offense has four players with 20+ RBI on the season. In the circle, Jaden Vickers (3.98 ERA, 145 SO) and Ashley Hitchcock (4.07 ERA, 97 SO) have done the majority of pitching for Rutgers, while the team has sent just three athletes to the circle this season (Vickers, Hitchcock, Georgia Ingle).
ILLINI IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
(Rankings as of Thursday, April 14)
Team
Batting Average: .323 (1st B1G, 17th NCAA)
Doubles: 68 (1st B1G, 6th NCAA)
Doubles per game: 1.94 (1st B1G, 3rd NCAA)
Slugging Percentage: .465 (5th B1G, 57th NCAA)
Scoring: 5.34 (5th B1G, 57th NCAA)
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: 3.52 (4th B1G, 27th NCAA)
Individual
Megan Ward: 13 doubles (4th B1G, 15th NCAA), 0.37 doubles per game (3rd B1G, 20th NCAA), 18.8 toughest to strikeout (4th B1G, 49th NCAA)
Kailee Powell: 0.31 doubles per game (5th B1G, 70th NCAA)
Avrey Steiner: 0.421 batting average (5th B1G, 38th NCAA), 51 hits (2nd B1G, 16th NCAA)
Tori McQueen: 6.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio (3rd B1G, 30th NCAA), 9.0 strikeouts per seven (5th B1G, 56th NCAA)
Sydney Sickels: 9.8 strikeouts per seven (3rd B1G, 33rd NCAA), 111 strikeouts (8th B1G, 76th NCAA)
Bella Loya: 24.0 Toughest to Strike out (1st B1G, 19th NCAA)
MCQUEEN TABBED BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK
After a stellar week in the circle, including two complete-game victories over Wisconsin last Saturday (April 9), sophomore left hander Tori McQueen was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday (April 11).
McQueen dazzled across three appearances last week, tossing two innings in relief and giving up no hits and no walks while striking out three batters and earning two complete-game victories against Wisconsin en route to a series sweep of the Badgers.
In Saturday's doubleheader, McQueen tossed 14 innings across two games, giving up just two runs on five hits and one walk (no walks in game one) while striking out 16 batters (13 in game one). Overall, McQueen tossed 16 innings last week, giving up just two runs on five hits and one walk with 19 strikeouts.
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.
PERRY EARNS 200TH WIN AS 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.
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.
