After opening their season 0-5, Illinois (3-7) rebounded last weekend with a three-win showing. Illinois looks to build on that momentum this weekend when they play Akron (4-7), NC State (4-7) and Providence (1-4) at the Raleigh Times.
Feast or famine
Illinois’ offense has proven temperamental this year, scoring either two-or-fewer or ten-or-more runs in eight of its 10 games.
In the Tiger Classic, Illinois failed to score more than four runs in any of their games. The team registered its share of hits — averaging 6.6 per game — but failed to score at a consistent rate.
Illinois again averaged 6.6 hits per game the next weekend at the War Eagle Classic, but fared much better.
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Illinois earned big wins over Binghamton and Bradley, scoring 11 and 10 runs in the victories, respectively. The same weekend, Auburn and Campbell baffled Illinois’ bats. Campbell held Illinois to two hits in a shutout win, while Auburn allowed just one.
The team also proved they’re capable of winning low-scoring games, taking down Campbell 2-1 in the weekend’s other contest. As Illinois moves through the season, it will need to find offensive consistency to remain competitive.
One area the team could find consistency in is home runs.
Bombs away
Illinois has slugged just five homers in its 10 games this season, three of which came in the team’s most recent game against Bradley.
Illinois’ five home runs are tied for the second-fewest in the conference, but it has a good chance to add to that total this weekend.
The long ball has bitten both Akron and NC State this year, with each team allowing 10 home runs entering the weekend. Illinois will have a harder time going deep against Providence, which has surrendered just a trio of homers in 30 innings.
Junior infielder Adisyn Caryl leads Illinois in homers (2) this season. Sophomore catcher Ellie Haggard, junior outfielder Delaney Mosley and sophomore outfielder Eden Echevarria have also left the yard this year.
The homer-happy pitching Illinois faces this weekend could give sophomore infielder Ella Cushing a chance to hit her first of the season. Cushing finished second on the team with 7 homers last year, but is still searching for her first in 2026.
Pitching poses questions
Among Illinois’ hurlers, right-handed senior Karley Yergler and freshman southpaw Abby Sabalaskey have emerged as a clear one-two punch.
Yergler carries a 2.62 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP through her first 18.2 innings. The senior has appeared in five games, making three starts. Sabalaskey owns a 3.20 ERA across 19.2 innings. The left-hander has made two starts among her seven appearances.
The duo has combined to cover 38.1 of Illinois’ 64.2 innings this season, while its other four pitchers have each thrown fewer than nine.
A pair of right-handers in junior Megan Nuechterlein and senior Christina Crawford have opened Illinois’ other games this year, but have both struggled. If this continues, Sabalaskey could earn a more permanent spot in a still-settling rotation.
Illinois starts its weekend slate against Akron and NC State on Friday, at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, respectively.
@BrendanGallian
