April 14, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
For the first time in program history, the Illinois State softball team (18-15, 8-4 Missouri Valley Conference) will be featured live on national television, as the Redbirds' midweek non-conference game at Illinois in Urbana, Ill., scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, will be shown live on the Big Ten Network. Mike Crispino and Eileen Canney will provide the play-by-play and color commentary for the game.
The live broadcast will be available in the Bloomington-Normal, Ill., area on DIRECTV (channel 220) and on DISH Network (channel 439).
The game will be replayed three times on the Big Ten Network following the live broadcast. A replay of the broadcast will air at 10 p.m. Wednesday, followed by additional replays at 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday.
The Big Ten Network is seen in over 16 million homes across the United States, with the majority of its viewership coming from the Midwest and the Ohio River Valley.
The game between Illinois State and Illinois will mark the first time this season that the Redbirds and Fighting Illini have met after their previously scheduled series-opener of the home-and-away series at the Redbird Softball Complex was rained out March 18. Despite being separated by approximately 60 miles, Illinois State and Illinois have played each other just nine times, with the Redbirds holding a slim 5-4 advantage over the Fighting Illini in the all-time series.
