Three hundred thirty-two days. It had been 332 days since the Illini (15-20, 2-6) won a Big Ten game, but that streak is now a thing of the past. Illinois broke through in a major way over the weekend, not only winning a game but taking its first three-game series since April 23, 2023.
“We all just work together and want to see each other succeed,” said junior left fielder Stevie Meade. “We went up there to have fun and play loose. I think the results show it paid off.”
While the weight was lifted off their shoulders, the weekend didn’t start smoothly in College Park. The Maryland Terrapins (17-19, 4-5) took game one relatively easily, only needing five innings for the 8-0 victory. But, as the Illini moved to 0-6 in conference play, their worst start ever under coach Tyra Perry, they flipped a switch.
After a scoreless opener, Meade had Illinois up early in game two, clubbing an opposite-field homer in the first inning. While the quick start was refreshing after the Friday shutout, Maryland scored the next two to take the lead.
Illini ace, senior Tori McQueen, didn’t have her best stuff in the circle in game two but fought hard to keep her team in the game. The righty allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out five in six innings of work. After 105 pitches on the day, McQueen left in line for the win after the offense gave her the run support she needed in the top of the fifth.
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It was the top of the order to lead off the fifth, and graduate student right fielder Kelly Ryono served a single up the middle to start the rally. Following a Meade double, junior catcher Paige Berkmeyer knocked them both in with a single of her own. Sophomore second baseman Gabrielle Debevec tallied her fourth RBI of the season, giving Illinois a 4-2 lead.
Four was the weekend’s magic number for Illinois, no more, no less. Junior pitcher Lauren Wiles entered for a scoreless sixth, before McQueen re-entered for a shutdown seventh inning. They only managed an infield single and Illinois evened the series with the 4-3 win.
Wiles picked up right where she left off in the rubber match, getting the ball first on Sunday, going toe-to-toe with the Terps’ best arm. Graduate student Courtney Wyche got the win for Maryland on Friday and is one of the top pitchers in the conference, making Illinois’ Sunday performance that much sweeter, after being able to see her twice.
“It was huge,” Meade explained. “We faced her twice, beat her once. It gives us a lot of confidence because we knew what she was going to throw.”
The Illini struck first again in game three after senior shortstop Megan Ward reached base and freshman third baseman Adisyn Caryl came to the plate and worked a hitter’s count. Caryl sent a 2-0 pitch flying over the right-center fence for her first collegiate home run and a key momentum shift in the pivotal game.
With a lead, Wiles confidently set the Terps down in order, bringing Illinois right back up to bat. The 1-2 punch of Ryono and Meade struck the state of Maryland once again, as a double and two-run shot extended the lead to 4-0.
Illinois never relinquished the lead, as Wiles turned the ball over to McQueen following one of her best performances of the year: 3.2 innings of shutout softball. McQueen took Illinois to the finish line, wrapping up a massive series win for momentum down the stretch. Illinois now returns home for five games in seven days, looking to build off a successful week.
“We’ve just got to carry on,” said Meade. “We’ve got Northwestern first, so we’re just prepping for that mentally, physically, just everything we can to make sure we are ahead of the game on that one.”
@benfader7
