It was a beautiful sunny afternoon for Illinois’ (10-9) home opener at Eichelberger Field on Friday. Fans cheered for the Illini as they toppled the Saint Louis Billikens (8-12) 5-0 to begin a six-game homestand.
Family in attendance
Sitting in the front row next to Illinois’ dugout was Becky Yergler, mother of junior utility player Karley Yergler. Karley Yergler’s nieces wore shirts with No. 12 on them that said “Aunt Yergler” in support of their favorite Illini. They celebrated with smiles all around as Karley Yergler pitched a complete shutout, her first with Illinois.
“We’ll take a three-hit shutout to start the season,” Becky Yergler said after the game.
Karley Yergler moved to 4-2 on the season with a 2.81 ERA. In seven innings, she struck out three batters and kept her composure the entire game.
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“My offense had my back, and they scored the runs that we needed, and that was able to give me the confidence to go out there,” Karley Yergler said. “First home game of the season; I think we were all very excited.”
Karley Yergler described how it wasn’t her best game despite the shutout. However, she emphasized how important it was to have support from her teammates and family in the stands.
“Having them so close and them being able to come to so many games means so much to me,” Karley Yergler said. “Having that support gives me confidence on the field because I know if I give my best, no matter what, they’re going to be proud of me.”
Support was a common theme throughout Friday’s game against the Billikens. Another proud Illini family member, Matt Cushing, father of freshman first baseman Ella Cushing, touched on his excitement for his daughter’s early outings with the team.
“It’s been great to see her get the opportunity to come out and play for the Illini; it’s something she dreamed about for a long time,” Matt Cushing said. “It’ll be fun to see how they grow and progress and evolve as a team. That’s always one of the fun things to see in team sports, is how a team starts and how they finish the season, so it’ll be fun to see what they’re able to do.”
Promising performances
In 28 plate appearances, Illinois secured nine hits. This was an improvement since the team struggled with the bats last weekend in Arkansas. One athlete who stood out for the Illini was redshirt sophomore utility player Yazzy Avila. She went 2-2 at the plate, slamming a double, home run and two RBI.
Additionally, as the underclassmen have all season, they continued their early collegiate triumphs on the diamond once again. Freshman infielder Taylor Porter went 2-3 at the plate, freshman shortstop Ava Moore nailed a triple in the fourth inning and freshman infielder Ellie Haggard had one hit and one RBI.
The offense is moving in the right direction for the Illini as they inch closer to Big Ten competition. With the energy high on Friday, the players hope it remains this way to aid them in their upcoming games.
“I’ve seen some really big crowds here,” Karley Yergler said. “I think that’s what I’m looking forward to the most — the energy from the team, the energy from the fans, from the coaches. I’m just so excited for that atmosphere.”
Next on deck
This home-field victory was exactly what the Illini hoped for as they began their competitive stretch at Eichelberger Field. The team has a busy week ahead, with back-to-back midweek games scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
First, the Illini will face off against the Indiana State Sycamores (5-17) on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Then, they will play at the same time on Wednesday against the Illinois State Redbirds (6-17).
After these two matchups, Big Ten competition comes into town. The Wisconsin Badgers (16-8) will play the Illini for a three-game series from Friday to Sunday in Champaign. If Friday showed anything, it’s that the Illini are eager for more home-field advantage and ready for the conference tests ahead.
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