While Central Illinois was locked in the throes of winter in late December, the Illinois State softball team spent 16 days in sunny Australia playing tourist and getting in some exhibition games.
Since the season opener in early February, the Redbirds have visited Tuscaloosa, Ala., Tempe, Ariz., College Station, Texas, and Bowling Green, Ky.
It's back to Normal this weekend for the well-traveled Redbirds, who will make their home debut with a chilly three-game series against Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s this weekend. Due to weather conditions, the doubleheader on Saturday was moved to Sunday while one game will be played beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
"It's definitely a big weekend because it's the start of the conference season," said 16th-year ISU coach
Melinda Fischer. "We would prefer playing in better conditions, but it's March weather in Illinois. With conference games, you have to be ready to go anytime."
ISU (11-7) appears ready after winning five of six games and claiming the title in last weekend's Western Kentucky Spring Classic. It's a drastic improvement from last season, when the Redbirds dropped 13 of their first 18 games.
Fischer credits much of the turnaround to the Redbirds' surprising run to the MVC Tournament championship last season. That earned ISU an NCAA Tournament regional berth in Tucson, Ariz., where the Redbirds won one of three games to complete a 27-33 season.
"It was a big plus for this program to get that experience of winning the conference tournament and winning a game in the regional tournament," Fischer said. "It was a big confidence-booster for this group. They got a taste of it and they want to get back."
The Australian excursion also has paid dividends.
"The trip to Australia was very rewarding, not only in being able to play games but also the team bonding that occurred," Fisher said. "It certainly helps to get outside early. I thought we started sluggishly at Texas A&M and Western Kentucky because we haven't been able to practice outside."
The Redbirds, who lost only two starters to graduation, have been led by senior second baseman April Schermann and senior right-hander Nicole Kurth. Schermann leads all regulars with a .462 average and 16 RBI. Kurth is 5-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 51 innings. The only other senior is center fielder Bridget Fournie (.288).
"The leadership of our seniors is so important because we're still relatively young," Fischer said. "Each of the seniors has given us what we thought we needed from them."
Other offensive leaders have included junior catcher and leadoff hitter Shae Wesley (.357, team-high 14 runs), sophomore third baseman Becky McMurtry (.321) and junior first baseman Jamie Bagnall(.319). Wesley is a Clinton native.
Kurth, the 2000 MVC Tournament's most valuable player, has been joined on the mound by sophomore right-handers Audra Rast (3-2, 1.63) and Corey Harris (3-3, 2.29).
ISU brings a season-high four-game winning streak into the Bradley series. The Braves are 2-4 under sixth-year coach Stefanie McAllister.
"I'm pretty much focused on getting us ready and not worrying so much about Bradley," Fischer said. "If we can take care of some things on our side, we feel we can be in every ballgame. We get in trouble when we start thinking."
