Chambana Sun

Illinois will engage with Eastern Illinois in their last non-conference softball match of the season on Wednesday at Eichelberger Field. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on B1G+.

Several Illinois freshmen have made headlines with their performance on the field. Among them, Ella Cushing, Ava Moore, Ellie Haggard, and Keirys Click have all hit home runs. Click's performance was particularly noteworthy when she was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a remarkable showing against Michigan State. Illinois also sees Yazzy Avila moving up the ranks as she is tied for seventh in the program's record book for being hit by a pitch 11 times in a single season.

Pitcher Lauren Wiles continues to make her mark with 112 appearances, placing her sixth in Illinois' softball record book. In their previous outing, Illinois suffered a defeat at Rutgers, where Yazzy Avila's double was the team's only extra-base hit.

Eastern Illinois arrives in Champaign with an impressive 27-19 record and a strong recent performance, including a seven-game winning streak. Their junior, Kendall Grover, recently achieved Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week after an outstanding performance against Tennessee State. Last year's standout, sophomore McKenzie Oslanzi, remains a key player, currently holding a 2.60 ERA.

Illinois has embraced a growth strategy, with 13 new players joining the team. Among them are transfers Lizzie Stiverson and Karley Yergler. Head coach Tyra Perry is noted for being one of 21 Black female head coaches in Division-I softball, marking a significant moment of representation.

Catchers Paige Berkmeyer and Adisyn Caryl are among those recognized on the Big Ten Players to Watch list. Berkmeyer has been effective defensively with notable batting statistics, while Caryl, a Big Ten All-Freshman, has shown promise with consistent performance.

Despite a challenging 2024 season record of 21-31 overall and a 7-15 in the Big Ten, the Illini achieved notable victories against Michigan State and Maryland. Seniors Kelly Ryono and Tori McQueen, who led the team in various statistics, were among key losses from the previous year's squad.