After 21 games against nonconference teams, Illinois (12-9) is finally launching into its conference competition. Conference play is Friday through Sunday with a three-game series against Wisconsin (16-8) on Illinois’ home turf.
At face value, the Illini and Badgers appear similar almost five weeks into the 2025 season. Wisconsin is Illinois’ first Big Ten test of the year, but a handful of conference contenders have demonstrated themselves as threats thus far.
In January, six Big Ten teams were ranked in the D1Softball Preseason Top 25 poll, and they haven’t let down the expectations just yet. As the Illini dip their toes into Big Ten contests, it’s fair to analyze the teams’ strengths and how well the Illini could match up with them.
West Coast newcomers
Some of the more intimidating softball performances have come from recent Big Ten additions: No. 5 UCLA (24-4) and No. 8 Oregon (24-2). The Bruins lead the Big Ten in runs (231) and fielding (98.4%) — they even lead the entire NCAA in fielding. Similarly, the Ducks are rather daunting on the mound and lead the conference in ERA at 1.75.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
The records speak for themselves, too. UCLA has wins over high-caliber programs, such as No. 14 Oklahoma State (16-6) and No. 15 Arkansas (20-3), illustrating its power on both sides of the field. However, the Illini don’t need to worry about the Bruins this year.
The Illini will need to scout the Ducks, and they’ll need to do so pretty soon. Illinois flies to Oregon next week for a three-game series in Eugene. Tied at No. 4 in the conference in batting average, the Ducks have some heavy hitters on their squad. More importantly, the Illini must prepare for the Ducks’ pitching crew. They have eight shutouts on the season and have been lights-out at the mound.
The Illini have had their inconsistencies to begin the season, but they’re finding their footing the more they play together. Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Wiles stands with a 2.93 ERA on the year and has begun her final season with confidence. If she plays against the Ducks, she could have a good chance at limiting them and their 0.345 batting average.
Familiar faces
Another conference hotshot so far has been No. 18 Nebraska (19-6). Funny enough, Illinois does not encounter Nebraska this season either, but it still has plenty of Big Ten challengers to battle down the line. The Cornhuskers lead the conference in home runs (53) and place second in RBI (190), showcasing their offensive specialties.
Illinois only competes against eight Big Ten softball programs this season, but another to look out for is Ohio State (18-5-1). The Buckeyes are the last team the Illini will play in May, but their early outings have shown dominance.
Sophomore catcher/utility player Jasmyn Burns ranks No. 6 in the entire NCAA in batting average at 0.529. She already has 36 hits on the year and nine home runs, so she’s a force to be reckoned with at the plate. For comparison, Illinois’ top hitters, sophomore infielders Eileen Donahue and Adisyn Caryl, have 20 hits each and a combined eight home runs.
If Burns and the Buckeyes continue to play like they currently are, it will certainly be a battle at Eichelberger to end the season. The Illini have shown improvements each week, so even against these high-caliber teams, the Illini could pull out victories, even if the road isn’t easy.
Matching up with Wisconsin
The Badgers and Illini are eerily neck-and-neck in the conference in a handful of statistics. First, Wisconsin ranked No. 13 in batting average at 0.270; following suit is Illinois at No. 14 with 0.269. Wisconsin has 19 more hits than Illinois, but that could easily change this weekend.
Illinois’ on-base percentage is the tiniest bit higher than Wisconsin’s at 0.352, compared to 0.351. As for pitching, the Badgers have a lower ERA at 2.65, while the Illini sit at 3.31. In fielding, Wisconsin is two spots higher at 96.2%, while Illinois is at 96.1%. Overall, both teams appear alike on offense and defense.
With the winds blowing strong this weekend, any team could emerge victorious. The Illini are riding a three-game win streak going into this series against the Badgers, so if they can keep that energy high, they could secure their first home series win in 2025.
@tess_eken
