The Illinois State softball team will battle against the Bradley Braves in a three-game series this weekend in Peoria, looking to break the .500 mark in their own War on 74.
The Birds (8-9, 3-0) havent met the Braves in over two years because of a cancellation last season due to inclement weather. Coach
Melinda Fischer said playing Bradley is always exciting because you never know what can happen.
Bradleys having some good performances in every area (on the field) and those are things we need to try to contain, Fischer said, whom holds a 27-6 record against the Braves over the past 16 years. You just need to go in and play the best you can play. Bradley is always Bradley. You never know what the outcome of the game will be.
Senior Cutie Taylor is taking the reigns at the plate thus far for the Birds, carrying a .452 slugging percentage and a .370 batting average, which includes five home runs and 11 RBI. Fischer looks forward to Taylors contributions against Bradley this weekend and believes that Taylor will carry out her responsibilities.
I think Cutie is key with leadership and consistency, said Fischer of Taylor, whos name is included on four of seven Valley hitting categories. She knows she can lead us in many areas of the game.
Beside Taylor, three other Redbirds are batting over .300 which has helped station the Redbirds in second place in Valley team batting statistics behind Indiana State with an average of .286.
Last weekend, the Birds three-game sweep over Creighton has put them in the battle for the top spot in the league. Illinois State is tied with Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State and Evansville with three Valley wins a piece.
Illinois State is scheduled to play on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon at the Bradley Complex in Peoria.
