2019 Softball Roster
Jersey Number 00
Veronica Ruelius
- Position:
- Outfield
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Marengo, Ill.
- High School:
- Marengo Community
Senior - 2019
- Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winner
- Illinois’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Recipient
- Saw action in 40 games for the Illini, starting 40 of them
- Hit .328 with 22 R, 39 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 78 TB, 21 BB, 2 HBP on the season
- Turned in a hit, a run and an RBI in a win over No. 23 Wisconsin (3/24).
- Paced the team with a .750 average with three hits, four RBI, three runs and two homers in midweek contests vs. IUPUI and Indiana State.
- Led the Illini with a .500 average on a 4-for-8 performance at the plate with three RBI and three runs at the LMU Tournament.
- Posted a 2-for-2 effort with a run against Seattle (3/2).
- Knocked a clutch RBI double in a win over Nicholls State (2/24).
- Turned in a hit, a run and an RBI in a win over No. 23 Wisconsin (3/24).
- Paced the team with a .750 average with three hits, four RBI, three runs and two homers in midweek contests vs. IUPUI and Indiana State.
- Led the Illini with a .500 average on a 4-for-8 performance at the plate with three RBI and three runs at the LMU Tournament.
- Posted a 2-for-2 effort with a run against Seattle (3/2).
Redshirt-Sophomore - 2018
- Saw action in 36 games, starting in 13 of them, mainly at the designated player spot
- Hit .261 with 7 R, 12 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 21 TB, 9 BB, 8 HBP
- Registered a .457 slugging percentage and an .460 on-base percentage
- Registered a two-run pinch hit home run vs. Northwestern (3/28/18).?
- Went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run in a doubleheader vs. Green Bay (4/18/18), including knocking her second home run of the season in game one.
- Posted a .500 batting average with an RBI in Maryland series.
- Registered a two-run pinch hit home run vs. Northwestern (3/28/18).
- Notched a pinch-hit two-RBI single at Purdue (3/22/18).
- Knocked an RBI double in a win over Cal Poly (3/17/18).
- Doubled on her first at-bat of the season vs. Providence (2/9/18).
Redshirt-Freshman - 2017
- Saw action in 35 games, starting in 14 of them, mainly at the designated player spot
- Hit .286 with 2 R, 16 H, 14 RBI, 8 BB, 4 2B, and 1 HR
- Knocked two-run game-tying double in the seventh inning against Michigan State in game one of a doubleheader outing (April 15)
- Registered her first collegiate home run against USF (March 18)
- Started all four games she saw action in at the LSU Invitational, posting a .333 batting average with three hits
- Knocked first career hit for an RBI single against North Carolina (February 11)
- Made first Illini appearance at the plate against Georgia Tech (February 10)
Freshman - 2016
- Used the season as a redshirt year
High School
- A four-year starter for Marengo Community High School under head coach Dwain Nance.
- Collected 166 career hits, 155 RBIs, 32 home runs, and 61 walks over 124 high school games, batting .519 as a junior and slugging 1.108 with a .483 average in her senior season.
- Three-time all-area first team (2013, 2014, 2015).
- Two-time all-state first team (2014, 2015); Third team in 2013.
- Three-time all-conference (2013, 2014, 2015).
- Named Northwest Herald Player of the Week on April 28, 2015.
- Led the Indians to second place finishes at the 3A State Tournament in 2012 and 2015 and to the sectional finals in 2013 and 2014.
- Played travel ball for the Northern Illinois Lightning from 2008-15.
- Led the Lighting to a fourth-place finish at Minnesota Nationals in 2013.
- 2010 USSSA All-Tournament
Personal
- Born Veronica Carey Ruelius on Dec. 30, 1996.
- Daughter of Meg and Chuck Ruelius.
- Has an older sister Nichole and a younger sister Jessica.
- Named to the Marengo Honor Roll in 2014-15.
Illini Softball | Ava Moore Media Availability 1/29/2025
Wednesday, January 29
Illini Softball | Karley Yergler Media Availability 1/29/2025
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Illini Softball | Head Coach Tyra Perry Availability 1/29/2025
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ILLINI SB | Berkmeyer Catching Runners
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