The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women’s Softball team will play its last home game of the spring season against Valparaiso on April 29 at Eichelberger Field, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. Central Time.
This matchup marks an important conclusion to the regular home schedule for Illinois, a program that participates in intercollegiate competitions as part of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I level, according to the official website. The Fighting Illini hold their home games in Urbana, Illinois and are known by this nickname for all university athletics teams.
Last week, Illinois secured a win over Indiana State before dropping three games to Penn State. In these contests, freshman Brooke Stang contributed with two hits and two walks against Indiana State, while Eileen Donahue and Keirys Click each hit a home run. Pitchers Megan Nuechterlein and Danika Frazier combined for the victory; it was Nuechterlein’s third win this year and Frazier’s first career save. Against Penn State, Donahue recorded her thirteenth home run of the season—a milestone that ties her for ninth in single-season program history alongside Jenna Hall (2006) and Stephyn Abello (2017). Donahue led the team last year as well with ten home runs.
Keirys Click has been hit by pitch eleven times this season—ranking fourth in conference play and forty-third nationally—and owns Illinois’ only grand slam this year. Juniors Skylar Brennan and Adisyn Caryl have led offensively: Brennan leads in batting average (.324), walks (11), on-base percentage (.411), while Caryl leads in runs scored (25) and stolen bases (4). Both have tallied forty-seven hits each so far.
Head coach Tyra Perry recently achieved her 700th career win as a head coach earlier this season and marked her 300th victory leading Illinois after defeating Indiana State at Eichelberger Field. The program operates at NCAA Division I level competition according to information from its official website.
Valparaiso enters Wednesday’s game with a record of nineteen wins and twenty-nine losses overall, having recently won two out of three games against Bradley. Madison Vrastil leads Valparaiso offensively with a .369 batting average while Mack Gallagher has contributed ten home runs this season.
Looking ahead, Illinois will finish its regular season on the road against Indiana from May 1-3. All remaining games can be streamed online or followed through live statistics.
