March 19, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Closing out a seven-game homestand, the No. 17 Illinois State softball team will host two midweek contests against Illinois and DePaul. Playing at 4 p.m. at Redbird Softball Complex, the `Birds will host the Fighting Illini for a single game on Tuesday, before welcoming DePaul for a 3 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
Illinois State is coming off a three-game Missouri Valley Conference sweep of UNI and a 4-1 record last week. Dropping a 3-0 decision to Loyola on Wednesday, the `Birds rebounded in the nightcap, downing the Ramblers, 9-7, and earning ISU head coach Melinda Fischer her 700th win at her alma mater. Led by Valley Player of the Week Jessie Buker, the `Birds will look to take improve upon their 23-6 overall record before traveling to Evansville, Ind., on March 16-17 for the second weekend of MVC play.
The Illini come to Normal, Ill., riding a six-game winning streak and boast an overall tally of 16-9. After an 18-3 victory over Sacramento State on Sunday, Illinois completed a 5-0 weekend to claim the 15-team Capital Classic Championship in Sacramento. DePaul won 10-straight games before Sunday's 3-2, eight-inning loss to No. 6 Oklahoma in Fullerton, Calif., at the Judi Garman Classic. The Blue Demons are now 16-6 in 2007.
The Redbirds are looking to tie the all-time record with Illinois, as the Illini own a slim 4-3 all-time advantage over ISU. The teams met in Miami in the opening tournament of the spring season for the Diamond Fun & Sun Classic on Feb. 9-11, with Illinois State taking a 5-2 decision from its in-state rival. The come-from-behind victory was credited to Illinois State pitcher Stacy Birk after ISU scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth, for the game-ending score of 5-2.
Illinois State leads the all-time series with DePaul by a slim 13-12-1 margin. The teams met three times in 2004 but the last two meetings occurred when the `Birds visited Chicago for a doubleheader on April 6, taking a 10-inning, 10-9, victory from the home team before the second game was called in the fifth inning in a 2-2 tie.
