Just two days after dropping its home opener to Illinois, the Illinois State softball team (14-5) will take on another in-state foe, Loyola-Chicago, at Redbird Softball Complex Thursday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
We really need to get back to playing Redbird softball, ISU head coach
Melinda Fischer said. Its been a while since weve played Loyola, and we dont really know a whole lot about them. We just need to be ready to go out and play our game and take care of business at home.
The Birds defeated the Ramblers in the lone meeting between the two teams (8-0 in 1997) during Melinda Fischers tenure. But this isnt the first time that first year Loyola coach Yvette Healy has faced these Redbirds. As an assistant coach at DePaul the past two seasons, Healy and the Blue Demons squared off with the Redbirds three times in 2004, with Illinois State going 2-0-1.
Loyola is off to a 5-9 start this season, after compiling a 31-29 record in 2004. Last season, the Ramblers played in the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament, falling to Illinois-Chicago, 4-0.
The second game of the Redbirds doubleheader against Illinois was cancelled due to the cold. The game will likely be rescheduled for later in the season.
