Illinois struggled to win Big Ten games this season, but going into senior weekend, the Orange and Blue had extra motivation to end the season on a high note.
Illinois softball hosted top 25 Ohio State on senior weekend. Due to the weather, the series against the Buckeyes was pushed to a doubleheader the following day. The Illini stunned the visitors with a 9-5 victory.
Catcher Paige Berkmeyer made an impressive statement to start off the final series of her college career, going 4-4 and smashing her second grand slam of the season. Yazzy Avila, Delaney Mosley, and Stevie Meade also contributed to the run total with impressive performances at the plate. Unfortunately, the Illini would go on to lose the next two games by a combined score of 6-1.
This marks the second year in a row the Illini finish the regular season under .500. After opening the season with an impressive 8-2 victory, Illinois struggled with pitching.
Lauren Wiles, Megan Nuechterlein, and Karley Yergler seemed to rotate in and out as the ace pitcher. Each had their share of highs and lows. The Illini pitching staff finished the year near the bottom of the Big 10 standings with a 22-28 record and a 4.38 ERA. However, freshman Danika Fraiser and Kent State transfer, Megan Nuechterlein, are bright spots for the future. Nuechterlein posted 47 strikeouts this season, and Fraiser appeared in 18 games and posted 16 strikeouts of her own.
The offense also had its share of struggles throughout the season. As a team, Illinois posted 44 home runs and 358 hits. These are decent numbers compared to the rest of the Big Ten conference. However, in conference play is when you need runs the most, and the Illini ended the season well under .500 against conference opponents with a record of 6-15.
That said, there were a few breakout performers this season. Sophomore Adisyn Caryl led the team with 50 hits and 33 runs. Sophomore Eileen Donahue led the team with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. This pair, along with freshmen Ella Cushing and redshirt sophomore Yazzy Avila, could really be a force to deal with at the plate next season. It was also good to see Alaina Miller get a good chunk of playing time this season after missing the majority of 2024 due to injury. Miller posted 26 hits and 17 runs this season. I think she is poised to do even better in 2026.
The overall record will definitely leave a sour taste in the mouths of the players and coaching staff. However, the Illini were able to post a winning record at Eichelberger Field, finishing the season at 11-8. The team will have to wait until next year for another shot at the Big Ten Tournament. Hopefully, with another year in the books, the bright young stars will shine even brighter and help get the squad over the .500 mark in 2026.