Illinois softball (18-26) is nearing the end of a long season, as its final midweek game is on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The DePaul Blue Demons (8-32) are the Illini’s final non-conference opponent as they wrap up the final two weeks.
Illinois is fresh off an important series win over Michigan State last weekend, and DePaul poses another opportunity to pick up a win late in the season. The Blue Demons have struggled all year long, entering Tuesday with an eight-game losing streak and holding a 0-6 record against Power Five opponents in 2024.
Illinois has won three of its last five games as it prepares to face its in-state foe, and it needs this win. The Illini jumped from 13th to 11th in the Big Ten following a two-win weekend, and every win contributes to momentum with two weeks remaining and the postseason looming.
Strangely, Illinois has found more success on the road than at home in the 2024 campaign, traveling to Chicago with an 8-7 record away from Eichelberger Field. An offensive outburst in East Lansing, Michigan, continued the productivity away from Champaign, with multiple bats stepping up.
Freshman third baseman Adisyn Caryl had a big weekend and was an X factor in the game one victory over Michigan State. Caryl took two hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded while adding two more RBI singles to push the Illini to an 8-6 series-opening win. The freshman reached base eight times in three games while totaling six RBI in the series.
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Another quality contributor from the series was graduate student right fielder Kelly Ryono. Since returning for her final year of eligibility, Ryono has been a consistent bat in the Illinois lineup. She also reached base seven times over the weekend and batted in a run in each game, highlighting her performance with a solo homer in the series opener.
Pitching-wise, Illinois is consistently utilizing only two arms at this point in the season. Senior ace Tori McQueen threw two complete games against Michigan State, while junior pitcher Lauren Wiles added one. McQueen is the probable starter to face the Blue Demons, having appeared in six of the Illini’s last seven games, starting five.
Run support benefited the pitching staff against the Spartans, as the team ERA has raised to 4.85. They’ll be up against a DePaul lineup that hits 0.227, with only two major threats in the batter’s box.
Fifth-year first baseman Brooke Johnson boasts a 0.360 AVG and a 1.134 OPS while senior catcher Riley Pool maintains a 0.327 AVG and 0.875 OPS. No other regular starters hit over 0.233, so keeping runners off base when Johnson and Pool hit will be crucial.
Tuesday’s matchup will pass the Illini into the second half of eight consecutive games on the road before they return home for their final series of the season.
@benfader7
