Northwestern (15-14, 3-3) swept Illinois (8-23, 0-6) at Eichelberger Field this weekend. Losing all three games, the Illini extended their conference struggles in their second Big Ten series of the season.
The Wildcats took the opener 6-1 on Friday evening, ultimately setting the tone for the rest of the weekend. Saturday afternoon’s game got cut short in a 19-5 run-rule loss, and while Illinois kept Sunday’s game closer, it still fell 5-0.
“It’s tough when you’re losing, we’ve lost quite a few in a row,” said head coach Tyra Perry. “I just think (the team has) to stay faithful.”
Illini push late in series opener
Senior right-handed pitcher Karley Yergler opened the series with a four-inning outing and held the Wildcats scoreless in the first two.
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“(Yergler) did a good job,” Perry said. “We just had some balls that we could’ve made plays on that we didn’t make plays on. We’re going to keep working and try to figure out how to support her.”
Yergler was relieved by senior right-handed pitcher Christina Crawford, who spun innings five and six. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Danika Frazier stepped up to the mound in the final frame, closing the game for the Illini.
The lone run for Illinois was scored from a collaborative effort between junior infielder Eileen Donahue and sophomore catcher Jackie Yeager in the final frame. Donahue broke Northwestern’s freshman right-handed pitcher, Marina Mason’s, no-hitter with a base hit. Yeager followed with a double, her first of the season, driving Donahue in to score.
Still falling short in run-rule loss
In Game 2, Illinois gave up 19 runs. Northwestern scored 12 of those runs right off the bat from starting freshman lefty Abby Sabalaskey.
“Sabalaskey is a great pitcher,” Perry said. “Just didn’t have the best outing, but she’s got really good stuff. We just have to keep working with her.”
The Illini responded to the deficit in the first frame, scoring four runs. Junior outfielder Skylar Brennan broke it open with a base hit, followed by sophomore infielder Keirys Click, who got on from an error. The duo set up junior infielder Adisyn Caryl’s three-run home run, her fourth of the season and first of conference play.
Donahue kept the momentum going, sending another one out of the park for the Illini. This marked her sixth homer of the season and third of conference play.
“(Donahue and Caryl) are our top hitters, so we have to keep working with them,” Perry said. “Right now they are doing a good job in clutch situations … We go where they go.”
The duo also contributed to scoring the final run for Illinois. Caryl logged a base hit, Donahue walked and sophomore catcher Ellie Haggard loaded the bases with a single. While pinch-hitting, sophomore infielder Ella Cushing was hit by a pitch, drawing in the last run of game two.
Yergler’s complete-game outing
The final game of the series was even worse for the Illini as they were held hitless, resulting in a no-hitter for Mason.
“We’re just trying to get our offense going; we’ve been putting up some goose eggs,” Perry said. “We have to try to figure out how to hit the ball.”
Despite the Illini offense staying silent, Yergler showcased her leadership among the pitching staff by throwing a full game, her sixth of the season. She battled through all seven innings, ensuring Northwestern only scored in the second and third frames. Yergler threw the Wildcats for a loop, holding them scoreless for the rest of the game.
“(Yergler) was definitely keeping (Northwestern) off balance,” Perry said. “I thought she did a really solid job of keeping us in the game.”
More than a game
As Illinois looks to regroup from its 11-game losing streak, the team hopes to bring success from within. Perry said the team has a lot of chemistry. The players spend a lot of time together outside of the diamond, which has been important through their battles.
“I do feel that we’re super bonded off the field, and sometimes on the field we’re just a little bit more reserved,” Perry said. “We’ve been talking about that openly, and we’ve been working on it.”
To strengthen that connection, team bonding has become important. Whether it’s spending time together, watching other Illinois teams compete, or taking part in community projects, support runs deep for this group.
Being on the road has brought the team together in different ways. Perry said they participate in community service when they are in Big Ten areas, which will continue when the team helps with a food pantry this weekend during their travels to Minnesota. It’s also about the simpler experiences, like watching a basketball game together.
“Sometimes we just, good old-fashioned, watch our basketball team,” Perry said. “When we’re on the road, we put it on the projector and we watch our team.”
Perry believes the closeness of the team can eventually translate into more confident communication on the field, as the Illini move deeper into Big Ten play.
Looking ahead
Illinois will be back on Eichelberger Field on Tuesday at 5 p.m. to host Northern Iowa (14-12). Illinois travels to Minneapolis this weekend for another conference series, beginning Friday against Minnesota (11-20, 3-3).
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