Illinois Fighting Illini softball

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Illinois Fighting Illini softball
Founded2000
UniversityUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
All-time Record753–563–2 (.572)
Head coachJenna Hall (1st season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationUrbana, Illinois, US
Home stadiumEichelberger Field (capacity: 1500)
NicknameFighting Illini
ColorsOrange and blue[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022

The Illinois Fighting Illini softball is the team that represents University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in NCAA Division I college softball. The team currently participates in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini are currently led by their head coach Jenna Hall. The team plays its home games at Eichelberger Field located on the university's campus.[2]

On June 2, 2026, the team announced Jenna Hall as its third head coach in team history. Hall was the team's first NFCA All-American and holds the team's single-season batting average record at .481.[3]

History

Year-by-year results

Season Coach Record Notes
OverallConference
2000 Terri Sullivan 13-17 Played as NCAA Division I independent
2001 49-23 12-8 3rd in Big Ten Tournament
2002 34-24 10-9 4th in Big Ten Tournament
2003 39-17-1 11-7 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament; NCAA Regionals
2004 45-21-1 14-6 Big Ten Tournament Runner-Up; NCAA Regional Final; Final Rank #17
2005 24-26 4-14
2006 24-31 8-11 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament
2007 30-25 7-8 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament
2008 30-32 8-12 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament
2009 29-17 12-7 NCAA Regionals
2010 45-8 16-2 NCAA Regionals; Final Rank #25
2011 27-22 9-8
2012 27-26 12-9
2013 22-27 5-11 T-9th in Big Ten Tournament
2014 24-26 13-6 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament
2015 26-27 6-10 5th in Big Ten Tournament
2016 Tyra Perry 36-23 12-11 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals
2017 39-20 14-8 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals; NCAA Regional Final
2018 37-18 13-8 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals
2019 33-25 9-14 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals
2020 11-11 0-0 Season cancelled/shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 24-20 24-20
2022 34-22 15-7 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals
2023 29-27 6-16 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals
2024 21-31 7-15 T-9th in Big Ten Tournament
2025 22-28 6-15
2026 14–36 3-17
2027 Jenna Hall

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
2000–2015Terri Sullivan487-368-2.569
2016–2026Tyra Perry301-264.533
2027-PresentJenna Hall
Reference:[4][5]

Coaching staff

Name Position coached Consecutive season at
Illinois in current position
Jenna HallHead coach1st
Yolanda McRaeAssistant coach1st
Jeremy ManleyAssistant coach1st
Lilli PiperAssistant Coach1st
Madi McCradyDirector of Player Development1st
Reference:[6]

Notable players

Awards

Big Ten Coach of the Year
Terri Sullivan, 2010[7]
NFCA All-Americans[8]
Meredith Hackett, 2010 (First Team)
Jenna Hall, 2006 (First Team)
Nicole Evans, 2017 (Third Team)
Danielle Zymkowitz, 2009, 2011 (Third Team)

Notable Individual School Records

Career Records

  • Most Games Played: Lindsey Hamma (2001-04) - 254
  • Highest Batting Average (min 250 at–bats): Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) – .384
  • Most Home Runs: Nicole Evans (2014-17) - 53
  • Most Hits: Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) - 277
  • Most Stolen Bases: Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) - 91
  • Most Pitching Wins: Amanda Fortune (2001-04) - 80
  • Most Strikeouts: Sydney Sickels (2019-23) - 714
  • Lowest ERA: Amanda Fortune (2001-04) - 1.50

Single–Season Records

  • Most At-Bats: Erin Jones (2001) - 233
  • Most RBI's: Angelena Mexicano (2008) - 62
  • Most Home Runs: Angelena Mexicano (2008) - 24
  • Most Hits: Kiana Sherlund (2018) - 81
  • Highest Batting Average: Jenna Hall (2006) - .481
  • Most Stolen Bases: Danielle Zymkowitz (2010) - 36
  • Most Pitching Wins: Amanda Fortune (2004) - 31
  • Most Strikeouts: Monica Perry (2009) - 223
  • Lowest ERA: Amanda Fortune (2004) - 1.24

References

  1. "University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Visual Identity: Color". Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  2. "Eichelberger Field". FightingIllini.com. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  3. "Illinois Announces Softball Coaching Change".
  4. "Illinois Softball Record Book" (PDF). FightingIllini.com. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS. p. 10. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  5. "Illinois Announces Softball Coaching Change".
  6. "2027 Softball Roster". FightingIllini.com. University of Illinois Athletics. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  7. "Illinois, Michigan and Ohio State Share Top Softball Honors". BigTen.org. May 19, 2010. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  8. "Illinois Softball Record Book" (PDF). FightingIllini.com. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS. p. 88. Retrieved 2 June 2026.