Groff twins share special connection, making history at SIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – “College softball has always been my dream, and I know it’s been my sister’s dream.” 

And now, Maddia and Rylinn Groff are getting to live out that dream together at Southern Illinois University, with Maddia in the circle, and Rylinn behind the plate. 

“We just work together, that’s always how it’s been, so it’s really cool to see some of that translating,” Maddia said.

“Our goal was to go together, we just thought it would be better,” Rylinn said. “SIU was the perfect fit for us, and we’re super happy to be here.” 

They both said there is something to that twin telepathy thing, which certainly helps as a pitcher-catcher battery… 

“I think we’re definitely able to communicate with each other without necessarily talking, which is very nice,” Rylinn said. “We’re just very comfortable with each other.” 

“We don’t have to use a lot of words, which makes it pretty efficient and convenient,” Maddia said.

And that twin communication isn’t something that head coach Jen Sewell had necessarily bought into until she saw firsthand how the Groff twins do it. 

“There’s so much going on that I think fans miss between the two of them because it’s such a quiet moment that they have,” Sewell said. “They’ll signal to each other, want something different, shake a pitch and you won’t even know what’s happened.” 

And Maddia has quickly established herself as not only the ace of the pitching staff, but one of the top hurlers in the nation. Through 15 appearances, she has compiled a 0.44 ERA, the fifth lowest mark in the country.

And in her first ever collegiate start, she threw the only 7-inning perfect game in SIU history. 

“I realized it was a no-hitter, but I didn’t even realize it was a perfect game at all,” Maddia said. “Sports are funny that way, try not to put much emphasis on it, it’s just one game, but yeah, it was cool.” 

And Sewell said talents like Maddia, especially as a freshman, only come along every so often. 

“We’re talking you get to coach one in your career at this level probably, so we’re just going to try to enjoy it, and enjoy four years of it,” Sewell said.