Illinois Travels North to Face Minnesota, Friday Game Time Changed

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois softball (8-24, 0-6 Big Ten) is set to head north to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for its first road test of conference play, March 27-29. All three games can be streamed on B1G+. First pitch for Friday, March 27, has been moved earlier to 2 p.m. CT, due to anticipated cold temperatures in the area. For the most current version of the schedule, visit FightingIllini.com.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois faced Northern Iowa at home to conclude its nine-game homestand on Tuesday evening, March 24. Illinois fell to the Panthers, 10-4, at Eichelberger Field. Eileen Donahue went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Keirys Click was 2-for-4.

CONSISTENT CARYL

Junior Adisyn Caryl continues to lead the team in batting average (.351), runs (17), RBI (22), total bases (49), and walks (12). Caryl owns 12 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games, both also squad bests. She is one of just two Illini, alongside Moore (shortstop), to start every game this season at the same position (third base).

MILESTONE MARKS

Head coach Tyra Perry achieved her 700th career win as a head coach, over Providence on Saturday, February 21, in Raleigh, N.C. Perry is also just six wins away from 300 victories at the helm of Illinois, which she could achieve as early as April 3 at Michigan State.

MOORE MATERIAL

With her ninth sacrifice hit of the season in game one against Missouri, sophomore Ava Moore now moves into a tie for eighth on the single-season sacrifice hits list at Illinois, alongside Sarah Bryers. Bryers recorded nine sacrifice hits in 2007. As of March 24, Moore leads the conference and ranks eighth in the country in sacrifice hits. The program single-season record is 13 sacrifice hits, set by Stevie Meade in 2022.  In 25 games last season, Moore had notched only two sacrifice hits. 

BRENNAN BULLETIN

Consistently hitting in the one or two spot for Illinois, Skylar Brennan has made her presence felt, leading the team in doubles (8), which is twice as many as any other Illini, and ties her for 15th among all Big Ten players. She reached base twice in games two and three against Northwestern, with an on-base percentage of .411 for the year, second to only Caryl. The junior college transfer also notched a 14-game reached base streak before it was snapped in game two against Missouri.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Gophers enter the weekend after taking two of three against Iowa on the road, squeaking out a narrow 1-0 victory in the Sunday rubber match. Strong pitching and defense were on display, as only eight total runs were scored by both teams across the weekend.

In the circle, Sydney Schwartz and Macy Richardson have split the bulk of the innings for Minnesota, throwing 84.2 and 72.0 frames, respectively. Schwartz owns a 2.56 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 19 appearances, while Richardson has notched a 3.89 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 20 appearances herself. In the Sunday victory over Iowa, it was Schwartz who went the distance, allowing just one hit and walking one in a complete-game shutout.

At the plate, four Gophers have 20 or more hits on the year, with Scarlett Kuhn leading the way with 25 hits and a .309 batting average. Tara Wolocko has also excelled, with 24 hits, 17 RBI, and six home runs. 

SERIES HISTORY

Minnesota narrowly leads the all-time series, 24-23. The sides' first meeting was a 15-inning marathon at Eichelberger Field, where the Fighting Illini emerged victorious, 2-1. The game lasted three hours and 25 minutes. The Gophers have taken the last four meetings, including most recently at the 2024 Big Ten Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa (10-7, 9 innings).

UP NEXT

Illinois will host in-state opponent Illinois State for a midweek contest on Tuesday, March 31 at 5 p.m. CT, before heading to Michigan State for another three-game Big Ten series. All four games next week can be streamed on B1G+.