University of Illinois
Maryland
Illinois Slated for Three-Game Series at Maryland
April 16, 2026 | Softball
PREVIEW
| Games 44-46 | at Maryland |
|---|---|
| When and Where: | Friday-Sunday (April 17-19) | Maryland Softball Stadium, College Park, Md. |
| Game Schedule (CT): |
|
| Television: | Friday | Saturday | Sunday (B1G+) |
| Live Stats: | Sidearm Stats |
| Social Media: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois softball (12-31, 2-12 Big Ten) is heading to Maryland for a three-game series against the Terrapins, April 17-19. First pitch times are slated for 5 p.m. CT on Friday, 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, and 11 a.m. CT on Sunday. All three games can be streamed on B1G+.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois last defeated SEMO on Wednesday evening, 9-8, at Eichelberger Field. Junior Eileen Donahue tallied three hits in four trips up to the plate, including two home runs. Donahue now owns three games with two home runs this season. Freshman Abby Sabalaskey got the win in the circle, improving her record to 6-7 and lowering her season ERA to 4.93. The contest was the first meeting in history between the two programs.
BRENNAN BULLETIN
A junior college transfer from Florida SouthWestern State, Skylar Brennan continues to excel, leading the team in batting average (.339), doubles (8), and is tied with Adisyn Caryl for most hits (42) and highest on-base percentage (.411). The outfielder has successfully reached base in all but seven games this season and owns the most multi-hit games on the squad, with 12.
MOORE MATERIAL
Shortstop Ava Moore is one of two Illinois players to start every game this season at the same position, alongside Adisyn Caryl at third base. Moore owns nine sacrifice hits this year, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten conference, and is tied for eighth in in program history, alongside Sarah Bryers, who tallied nine sacrifice hits in 2007.
CONSISTENT CARYL
Having started all 43 games at third base this season, Adisyn Caryl has been a consistent force for the Fighting Illini. Caryl owns team-bests in OPS (.895), runs (23), walks (14), and most hits alongside Brennan, with 42. From February 14 to March 8, she recorded a 14-game reached base streak, the longest by any Illinois player this season.
DONAHUE DINGERS
Eileen Donahue has put her power on display at the plate, owning three games with two home runs, including this Wednesday in the victory over SEMO, 9-8. Her .632 slugging percentage, 30 RBI, and eight multi-RBI games all lead the team. Donahue is also the only Illinois player to record five RBI in a Big Ten game this season.
IN THE CIRCLE
After Wednesday's victory over SEMO, left-hander Sabalaskey lowered her season ERA to 4.93, a staff-best, and picked up her sixth win of the year, also most on staff. She has hurled 82.1 innings, second only to senior Karley Yergler, who has thrown 94.0, and has notched a staff-high 51 strikeouts.
Megan Nuechterlein and Danika Frazier have notched the squad's pair of conference wins, with Frazier tallying a win on March 28 at Minnesota, and Nuechterlein on April 3 at Michigan State.
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 two wins away from 300 victories at the helm of Illinois, which she could achieve as early as April 18 against Maryland.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Maryland sits at 15-26 overall and 1-17 in Big Ten play, most recently defeating Howard, 6-0, after being swept by No. 18 Oregon on the weekend. Against Howard, pitcher Aubrey Wurst tossed a complete-game shutout, her third win of the season, holding the Bison hitless until the fourth inning. A Zayda Rocke grand slam and two-score home run from Anna McGowan lifted the Terps over Howard.
At the plate, Mariah Penta owns the best batting average (.363), most hits (25), best slugging percentage (.548), and is tied for the most RBI with 29, alongside McGowan and Rocke. In the circle, all four pitchers have taken a near-equal share of the work, with Keira Bucher tallying a 3.73 ERA in 65.2 innings.
Maryland's lone Big Ten win came against Rutgers on March 7.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois holds a 12-7 advantage in the all-time series. In 2024, the Fighting Illini took two of three games to win the series against the Terrapins on the road. Current starters Adisyn Caryl and Eileen Donahue each tallied a pair of hits in the 2024 series, including a two-score homer for Caryl.
The first-ever meeting between the teams came on February 23, 2001, in Boca Raton, Fla., a narrow 1-0 loss for Illinois.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns home for its final five-game homestand of the season, welcoming Indiana State on Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. CT, before hosting Penn State for its final home conferences series, April 24-26. The April 25 game against Penn State will air on Big Ten Network, while all other remaining games can be streamed on B1G+.
