Softball Game Preview: Illinois Lutheran Chargers vs. Gardner-South Wilmington Panthers

The Illinois Lutheran Chargers will square off against the Gardner-South Wilmington Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Neither of those teams managed to put together many runs in their previous contests, so the offenses might be a little more motivated than usual.

Illinois Lutheran is headed into Thursday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Wednesday. They fell 5-1 to Donovan.

Lola Spada

Batters Struck Out

05/14/25 vs Donovan	8
05/08/25 vs Momence	9
05/06/25 @ Momence	6
05/05/25 vs St. Anne	5
04/30/25 @ Thornton Fractional South	5

Lola Spada spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Illinois Lutheran saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Mia Jacobucci, who went 1-for-4 with one run.

Meanwhile, Gardner-South Wilmington unfortunately witnessed the end of their six-game winning streak on Wednesday. They took a 4-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of Pontiac.

Gardner-South Wilmington's loss dropped their record down to 19-10. As for Illinois Lutheran, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-11.

Illinois Lutheran's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's matchup. The Chargers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Gardner-South Wilmington, though, as they've been averaging only 0.9 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Illinois Lutheran continue to outrun the ball?

Illinois Lutheran suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Gardner-South Wilmington in their previous matchup on Tuesday. Will the Chargers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.