Illinois returns this weekend to take on the Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Illini will be looking for more success than they’ve had in seasons past, and these three players could help the team achieve that with breakout years.
Sophomore season surge?
Sophomore infielder Ella Cushing came into her freshman year as a promising player. Cushing earned First Team All-State honors in her senior year of high school. She made an impact for the Illini right away.
Last season, Cushing held down the DH position for the bulk of the year. She appeared in 47 games and made 33 starts. As a freshman, Cushing put up very respectable numbers, slashing .255/.323/.464. She also launched 7 bombs, the second-most on the team.
Cushing has proven her ability to drive in runs, having three separate games last year where she drove in four or more. This helped log her 27 total for the season, which tied her for second on the team.
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This season should provide Cushing with more opportunities to do damage. As a sophomore, she should see even more starts now that she has a year of experience behind her. Cushing also saw more playing time and put up better numbers at the plate than any other freshman last year.
With experience comes growth and learning opportunities. Cushing’s solid freshman year could easily translate into a superb sophomore season.
Moore to prove
Before sophomore infielder Ava Moore saw her season cut short last spring due to an injury, she was a shining middle-infielder for Illinois, starting in 25 games. Prior to her debut as an Illini, she was high on the national radar. She was named to D1 Softball’s D100 Freshmen Watch List, Softball America’s Freshman Watchlist and the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
As a first-year player, she fell nothing short of the high expectations that were set for her. She proved herself as a strong offensive player, logging 21 hits, 14 runs and four RBIs with a .362 batting average and a .552 slugging percentage.
Moore also showcased her power potential with a double, two triples and two home runs. She also drew seven walks against 13 strikeouts. She recorded a .439 on-base percentage, bolstered by a 10-game on-base streak.
The infielder, still an underclassman, brings young talent to the team. This season looks promising for Moore, considering how much she accomplished last season, even with it being cut short.
Could transfer pitcher bolster rotation?
Staff workhorses junior right-hander Megan Nuechterlein and senior right-hander Karley Yergler are set to anchor the Illini rotation, but the team will be missing both the leadership of Lauren Wiles and the 67.2 innings she threw last season.
Among candidates to step up are returning sophomore right-hander Danika Frazier and a pair of transfers in senior right-hander Christina Crawford and junior right-hander Amanda Smith.
Smith posted far-and-away the best numbers of the trio last season, notching a 2.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 184.0 innings at Moorpark College.
While Smith will be facing much tougher competition in the Big Ten than in the Western State Conference, her numbers suggest that she could be in for a big season.
The right-hander demonstrated pinpoint control, limiting walks (39) and homers (8) in her 32 appearances for the Raiders en route to her second-straight First Team All-WSC appearance. In 2024, Smith captured WSC Pitcher of the Year honors after carrying a sterling 1.80 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 206.0 innings.
Given her past performance, Smith should be a strong candidate to make the Illini rotation this year.
Illinois kicks off its season against Lamar and Nevada in a Friday doubleheader, North Carolina State and Lamar on Saturday and No. 16 LSU on Sunday.
