For the third straight week, Illinois State will be battling for a spot in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, this time in Evansville, Ind. The Birds, currently No. 6 in the league, need just one win in the three-game series against the Purple Aces in order to qualify for the six-team Valley Tournament.
Taking care of ourselves by playing well and playing relaxed needs to be our focus, head coach
Melinda Fischer said. If we stay relaxed I believe that we can do a lot of good things. We need to put all the parts together good at bats and fundamental softball. In order for us to be successful, our pitchers also need to step up and pitch at the level we know they can.
Redbird softball teams have rarely been in a position where they are contending just for a spot in the conference tournament. ISU is the only team to have competed in all 22 Gateway and Valley tournaments. Typically Fischers teams have been battling for one of the top two seeds the final weekend of the regular season.
At this point, Drake, ISU and Northern Iowa are battling for the last two spots in the tournament. The No. 7 Panthers are currently on the outside looking in; however, they have a chance to get in as they take on No. 5 Drake in this the final weekend of Valley competition.
Another twist could play itself out if the Redbirds (28-18, 11-13) sweep this weekends series, and both No. 4 SMS and Drake lose three straight this weekend. That would mean that the Birds would get the No. 4 seed. Seeding in the tournament is based on conference win percentage. Southern Illinois, Wichita State and Creighton have already claimed the top three seeds. This seasons tournament will be held May 12-14 at Wilkins Stadium on the campus of Wichita State.
This weekends series in Indiana will be the last go-around this season for Evansville, which is out of contention for the Valley Tournament at 6-18. The Purple Aces, 15-32 overall, will be looking to send their seniors out on a good note at the expense of the Redbirds.
Last season Illinois State won the regular season series, its last of the season, 2-1. Evansville took the final game of the series, and parlayed the confidence they had gained into defeating the Birds in the first round of the 2004 Valley Tournament. ISU didnt get another chance to compete in the double-elimination tournament as the second round was cancelled due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. Four teams, including the Purple Aces and the Redbirds, ended their seasons early as a result of the untimely elimination.
The Birds square off with the Aces in a noon doubleheader on Saturday, before completing the regular season with a noon match-up Sunday.
