Three competitors await Illinois (7-6) this weekend at the Wooo Pig Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Missouri State (1-9), No. 12 Arkansas (14-1) and Big Ten opponent Iowa (10-3) will take on Illinois in this three-day tournament.
The Wooo Pig Classic marks the Illini’s final tournament before getting into their regular season slate. With momentum from a successful Marucci Classic, Illinois must continue strong in this series to return home with more energy than ever.
One game at a time
It’s often easy to look at the big-picture ideas for a team. However, in a season with over 50 games, sometimes players and coaches must take things day by day. Victories should be celebrated, but before they know it, the Illini must return to action and gear up for more competition with few breaks in between.
With such a lengthy schedule, head coach Tyra Perry compared her mindset to that of football head coach Bret Bielema’s from this past season.
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“We’re taking each game as 0-0,” Perry said. “That (next) game is the most important thing in front of us. We don’t worry about what happened in the past, we’re not moving forward to the future, we’re just focused on today.”
Illinois has some challenges ahead this weekend, but it will approach each competitor with the same outlook. Not dwelling on past mistakes or fearing for subsequent matchups allows the team to focus on themself and their own goals.
“I think we’re going to continue with that 0-0 approach and making sure that we are prepared to play our game no matter who’s on the other side,” Perry said.
Weapons from every dugout
While Perry emphasizes remaining present, it’s hard not to look at the opposition as March creeps near. Each team in the Wooo Pig Classic brings its strengths. The intensity will only continue into this weekend.
From Arkansas, the Razorbacks have a heavy hitter in their senior infielder Bri Ellis. Across 15 games, Ellis is batting 0.568, the 11th best batting average in the country. The Illini will battle the Razorbacks twice this weekend, once on Friday and once on Saturday. While Arkansas has its strong suits, Illinois has its own tricks up its sleeve.
Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Wiles has gotten off to a hot start to the season. Wiles has a 4-1 record and 0.55 ERA. Her veteran prowess and diligence on the mound will be extremely useful to the Illini in Fayetteville.
On Iowa’s side, the Hawkeyes have a pitcher similar to Wiles. Junior right-handed pitcher Jalen Adams has begun the year with a 7-1 record and 0.86 ERA, demonstrating she’s a force at the mound as well.
However, the bats were swinging for Illinois last weekend, and it was an all-around effort. One of the Illinois’ top batters this season is senior catcher Paige Berkmeyer. Another seasoned athlete, in 13 games she’s hit 0.351 and six RBI. Following suit is sophomore infielder Eileen Donahue, who’s batting 0.350 to start. If the offense can flow like it did last weekend, the Illini will be in good shape before Big Ten play ramps up.
Winning ways
“I think another 3-1 weekend is great because we just needed to learn how to win again,” Perry said after Illinois’ trip to the Marucci Classic.
Perry noted the importance of dialogue with her players, as a means to determine what they want to get out of their plate appearances.
“We talk about winning pitches,” Perry said. “If you hit and hit and hit, then sometimes those will go through. But when you scatter hits, sometimes it’s a little easier to defend.”
This weekend will showcase how the Illini can maintain their winning ways and find the hits that fit them best. They have a tough series ahead, but their consistent communication and confidence in one another keep the spirits alive.
@tess_eken
