Illinois softball will face Missouri in a non-conference doubleheader at Eichelberger Field in Urbana on March 18. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Time, with the second game set to begin about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener. Both games will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast via FightingIllini.com, Varsity Network app, and WDWS radio.
The matchup is part of Illinois’ nine-game home stretch and comes after the team opened Big Ten play with three losses to Iowa. During that series, Illinois scored 16 runs on 21 hits, including four home runs. Pitcher Karley Yergler completed two full games and lowered her season earned run average to 3.75.
Junior Eileen Donahue had a strong performance against Iowa, going five-for-eight at the plate with two home runs and four runs batted in over three starts as designated player. Her two home runs marked the third multi-homer game by an Illinois player this season. Ava Moore leads the Big Ten Conference with eight sacrifice hits this year and ranks ninth nationally in that category. Moore’s total also ties her for ninth place in single-season program history.
Infielder Keirys Click hit her first career grand slam against Iowa, which was also Illinois’ first grand slam of the season and the program’s 56th overall. Adisyn Caryl continues to lead Illinois in several offensive categories, including batting average (.390), on-base percentage (.462), and hits (30). Skylar Brennan has contributed seven doubles and maintains a twelve-game streak of reaching base.
Missouri enters the doubleheader with a record of 12-16 overall and has played eight games against ranked opponents this season. Abby Hay leads Missouri with a .363 batting average while freshman Abby Carr has posted a team-best earned run average of 2.28 along with five home runs.
Missouri holds a historical advantage over Illinois in their series, leading 17-4 all-time. Illinois last defeated Missouri on March 11, 2020, before that season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
Head coach Tyra Perry recently achieved her 700th career win as head coach on February 21 against Providence and is six wins away from reaching her 300th victory at Illinois.
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women’s Softball program participates in intercollegiate competitions within the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I level according to the official website. The team plays its home games in Urbana under the nickname “Fighting Illini” as reported by the official website.
Illinois will continue its homestand from March 20-22 when it hosts Northwestern for its next Big Ten series.
