And it continues to pile on.

The Illinois softball team has lost 13 of its last 14 games and over 25 percent of its entire season schedule in the past three weeks. While the team has shown little resistance in slowing the skid, its spirits remain exceptionally high.

Head coach Terri Sullivan said she still believes in the players’ skill and that the team just needs to put all the pieces together.

Despite the presence of confidence, the results have not changed — they have gotten worse.

The sweep by Minnesota this past weekend marks the third time in just four conference series that Illinois has been swept since starting Big Ten play — the one exception coming in a series against Nebraska, in which the Illini won one game by squeaking out a late, one-run victory.

The team’s troubles have sprouted from both sides of play.

Offensively, the Illini are the worst run-producing offense in the Big Ten — scoring just over half as many runs as their opponents (188-101) — while they find themselves in last place in the conference when it comes to hits (208).

But during each one of Illinois’ 909 at-bats this season, the entire bench has stood on the top step, cheering for a hit.

“Our team really believes in themselves and their preparation,” Sullivan said. “They have enthusiasm, they are positive, they are working hard, but they have just got to play better softball.”

Defensively, the Illini pitching staff has the second worst ERA in the Big Ten (4.22), and has given up the most walks in the conference (208) — allowing 6.23 walks per game, compared to its opponents’ pitching allowing just 2.58.

Senior Pepper Gay said the pitchers have to concentrate on having a pitch-by-pitch mentality and trust the team’s defense — the one part of Illinois’ game that has stayed on par with its opponents.

The Illini defense has turned 15 double plays — the third most in the Big Ten — and is in the middle of conference rankings when it comes to errors (44) and fielding percentage (.958).

Senior catcher Stephanie Cuevas said the players have adopted Sullivan’s mentality of being disappointed, but not discouraged by their play as of late.

“I think that is an attitude that we are all taking,” Cuevas said. “We are not happy with how we are playing, and we know that we are capable of a lot better play, both mentally and physically.”

Illinois has proved its capability throughout the season, but unfortunately only in limited portions.

Gay — who, at the moment, single-handedly has more walks than six teams total pictching staffs in the Big Ten — threw a no-hitter against Green Bay on Feb. 10. The offense has scored big in certain games, even beating Providence by the mercy rule (11-2 in six innings); however, the problem is the Illini’s success has come in rations.

The team hasn’t had a helping of success in nearly a month, and the team’s starvation in the win column has become continuous.

“You don’t get any games back that you already played, so you have to play the one you have,” Sullivan said. “Winners win in streaks, and we need to get a good streak going. I know this team is capable of that.”

But with just 13 regular season games left on the schedule, the time for a season-changing winning streak is running out.

“Once we break through, we know we’re going to come back with a vengeance,” Cuevas said. “We have the talent. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and once we do, watch out for us.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and @NeumanntheHuman.