It was a fun week at Eichelberger Field for Illinois (12-9, 0-0). The hosts welcomed two Missouri Valley Conference teams, Indiana State (6-18) and Illinois State (6-19), for the midweek competition ahead of Big Ten play. The energy was high in the third base dugout, as well as in the bleachers.
The Illini came away with victories in both games: 6-4 over the Sycamores on Tuesday and 3-1 over the Redbirds on Wednesday. There were many positives to take away from the past 14 innings of softball.
Berkmeyer’s birthday bash
On Tuesday, senior catcher Paige Berkmeyer completed a lap around the sun. In the fourth inning against the Sycamores, she ran a lap around the bases.
Facing a full count, Berkmeyer looked for something she could drive up the middle to get a run across. The line-drive grand slam to left-center gave the Illini four runs and the lead. After the game, she discussed that the team was very excited for her.
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“(Teammates) were smacking my helmet and jumping up and down,” Berkmeyer said. “So it’s just great to be in an atmosphere where I feel supported. And I know that I have their back, but they also have mine as well.”
With the wind blowing straight in from center field, the only way anyone would hit a home run on Tuesday was on a line drive. Berkmeyer did just that and turned a 2-0 Indiana State lead upside down.
Strong defense, pitching
Wednesday’s evening game didn’t see as much offense from the Illini. But the fielding, especially from junior infielder Gabrielle Debevec, stole the show.
With Illinois ahead 2-0 in the fourth inning, Debevec backhanded a ground ball up the middle hit by Illinois State’s junior infielder Abby Knight. She quickly threw the ball to sophomore infielder Eileen Donahue at first base to retire Knight. Debevec then made another nice play to get the first out in the seventh inning.
A strong defense is a good accompanist to a young pitcher. Freshman right-hander London Park did not strike anyone out but created numerous ground balls and playable fly balls. Park focused on keeping Illinois in the game, and while doing so, she picked up her first collegiate win.
“ I feel like they did a phenomenal job,” Park said about her teammates. “They always work hard on and off the field for us. We play for each other, and we really want to win for each other, not just for ourselves. And I feel like that plays a big role in it.”
Small ball still exists
The Redbirds cut the Illini’s 2-0 lead in half in the fifth inning. It was clear the Illini needed to respond before the other side took control of the game.
Sophomore infielder Adisyn Caryl doubled off the base center field wall to lead off the inning. Donahue proceeded to ground out to second, but the situational hitting moved Caryl to third and in position to score, which she then did.
Berkmeyer grounded a single up the middle to score the run and put Illinois back up by two. The score would stay that way to the end.
Still some things to learn
Things got a bit dicey toward the end of Tuesday. With two outs in the seventh, junior right-hander Karley Yergler had trouble finishing the deal. She allowed a deep double to right center, which scored a run, and later had runners on the corners. Yergler would get the next batter to foul out to end the game.
“It’s good to be challenged,” Berkmeyer said. “We do have to learn to shut the door when we have two outs and when we’re ahead, which is something we’re working through right now. But we’re progressing towards that, and at the end of the day, we got a dub on the board.”
Missed opportunities were also a story on Wednesday. Illinois State turned three double plays, two of them on baserunning lapses. Debevec got a little too far off the bag at first on a lineout and got doubled up. Later, freshman shortstop Ava Moore was three-quarters of the way to third and got doubled up on a flyout to right center. Both of those plays ended their respective innings.
Big Ten play on the horizon
The Wisconsin Badgers (16-8, 0-0) are next on the docket for the Illini. They will be the first opponent of the Big Ten conference slate. The two teams are set for a three-game weekend series.
The opening game of the series is Friday at 3 p.m. They will then face off on Saturday at 1 p.m. and close the series on Sunday at noon.
Illinois has much to take away from the midweek games this week, and it looks like a cohesive team. It is riding a three-game winning streak dating back to March 7. Momentum is on Illinois’ side, and it will go in with the mentality of starting every day 0-0.
