Softball Recap: Tolono Unity Finds Playoff Glory Versus Normal University

Rockets

Margin (Wins)

03/31/25 @ Oakwood	19
04/07/25 @ Rantoul	18
05/05/25 vs St. Thomas More	17
04/14/25 vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda	16
05/31/25 vs Normal University	15

Tolono Unity had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They put the hurt on the Normal University Pioneers with a sharp 16-1 victory on Saturday. The result was nothing new for the Rockets, who have now won 21 contests by six runs or more so far this season.

Lindy Bates spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Sophia Beckett, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-5. That's the most RBI she has posted since May 3rd. Another player making a difference was Shelby Smith, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Tolono Unity kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.

The win was the 14th in a row for Tolono Unity, bringing their record up to 33-4. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Normal University, with the loss, they broke their eight-game winning streak and moved their record to 19-17.

Looking ahead, Tolono Unity will take on Auburn at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (the Rockets 2.2, the Trojans 1.6) so any runs scored will be well earned. Normal University does not have any more games scheduled as of now.