ILLINI HEAD TO CHICAGO FOR MIDWEEK MATCHUP AT DEPAUL
After a 3-3 week that included a split doubleheader against top-ten Northwestern and a series victory over Iowa, the Fighting Illini softball team hits the road for four games this week beginning on Wednesday (April 27) as the Illini head to Chicago to take on the DePaul Blue Demons in an afternoon matchup. Fans can follow the game live via StatBroadcast and can watch the game on FloSports, subscription required.
ILLINI TAKE SERIES AGAINST IOWA
With temperatures reaching the 80s Saturday afternoon, the Fighting Illini softball team split a doubleheader against the Iowa Hawkeyes to clinch the three-game series at Eichelberger Field. Illinois dropped game one by a score of 7-3 in nine innings, while picking up a 5-4 victory in game two to clinch the series.
Illinois (29-16, 12-4 Big Ten) claimed their third-straight weekend series victory after previously sweeping Wisconsin and Rutgers. In the series, senior Kailee Powell led the Illini going 4-for-9 with a double and four RBI to go along with two runs scored. Freshman Stevie Meade and junior Delaney Rummell also added two RBI in the series, while senior right-hander Sydney Sickels tossed 10.2 innings against the Hawkeyes, giving up just four runs (all unearned) while walking just three batters and striking out 13.
ILLINI SECURE SECOND TOP-TEN VICTORY OF SEASON IN DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT VS. NORTHWESTERN
It was a tale of two games for the Fighting Illini softball team Wednesday afternoon at Eichelberger Field, as Illinois was shut out in the first game of a doubleheader against No. 10/8 Northwestern. However, the Illini bounced back in a big way in game two, tallying 11 hits and using a six-run second inning to hand the top-ten Wildcats their most lopsided loss of the season, an 8-0 run-rule victory for the Illini in five innings.
Illinois was able to put behind their shutout loss in game one by exploding offensively in game two, tallying 11 hits and eight runs to run-rule the Wildcats for the first time this season. In the circle, senior Sydney Sickels extended her shutout streak to 26.1 straight innings without giving up a run, tossing five innings and giving up no runs and just four hits while striking out four batters. At the plate, sophomore Megan Ward went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, junior Delaney Rummell tallied a two-RBI double, while senior Avrey Steiner went 2-for-3 with a double and freshman Paige Berkmeyer went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Graduate student Bella Loya also added to the Illini scoring with a solo home run in the third inning.
SCOUTING DEPAUL
The Blue Demons head into Wednesday's matchup with a 24-19 overall record, and a 12-6 mark in Big East conference play. Last weekend, DePaul swept Georgetown in a three-game series, scoring 10+ runs in all three of their victories (10-2, 17-0, 13-9), and are on a current seven-game winning streak. Infielder Brooke Johnson leads the team with a .403Â batting average, knocking 52 hits with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, and one triple, driving in a team-leading 47 RBI. Graduate Student Sarah Lehman leads in the circle with a 3.27 ERA over 100 IP, while senior Erin Hocker has tossed seven complete games this season.Â
BIG TEN RACE HEATING UP
Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, the Illini boast a 12-4 record in Big Ten conference play. They sit in third place currently, just behind Nebraska (14-2) in second place and Northwestern (15-2) in first place. Illinois is set for a three-game set at Indiana (6-9 B1G, T-9th) this weekend, while Nebraska travels to Ohio State (8-7 B1G, 8th) and Northwestern hosts Iowa (2-15, T-13th).Â
ILLINI PITCHING STAFF BREAKSÂ SINGLE-SEASON STRIKEOUTS RECORD
The Illini pitching staff has tossed 330+ strikeouts this season, ans have surpassed the previous season record for strikeouts. The record of 330 was set back in 2001.Â
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.Â
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 seven newcomers to the 2022 roster, including freshmen Zoe Caryl, Stevie Meade, Macy Krohman, Paige Berkmeyer, Lauren Wiles, and Zoie Howard, while also welcoming in Dayton transfer Megan Ward,
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