CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini softball's Keirys Click was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following an impactful weekend on the diamond that helped Illinois to a series win over Michigan State, the league office announced Monday (April 14). Click's big weekend helped her become the first Illini to earn a Big Ten softball weekly award since 2022.
The Hobart, Indiana, native went 3-for-8 across the series, including two home runs, three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored. She also drew two walks and a hit by pitch across the weekend. Click's home runs marked her second and third of the season.
Click was a critical piece of the Illini's comeback win in the series finale, connecting for a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh on Sunday to tie the game at 4-4. Her two-hit performance on Sunday was her fifth multi-hit game of the season and fourth multi-RBI game. The freshman's current five-game reached base streak is the third-best on the team and a career best.
In the field, Click started all three games at a different position, playing shortstop, catcher, and second base. She tallied six putouts and three assists.
The last Fighting Illini named Big Ten Freshman of the Week was Stevie Meade on March 8, 2022.
