Illinois State Game Notes | May 1, 2009 
May 1, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State softball team will look to get in its final reps before heading to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament next weekend as they travel to Evansville, Ind., for a three-game series with the Evansville Purple Aces at Cooper Stadium Saturday and Sunday.
Illinois State enters the weekend 22-24 overall and 10-10 in MVC play, placing the team fifth on the conference leader board. The Redbirds lead the all-time series against Evansville, 25-15, including a three-game sweep of the Aces last season at Marian Kneer Stadium in Normal, Ill.
Illinois State wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a loss to Northern Illinois Tuesday. ISU hit a pair of home runs, but five errors proved to be too costly as the Redbirds lost, 5-3. The Redbirds' rescheduled series with Southern Illinois was halted in the fourth inning due to rain Monday afternoon.
Abby Olson leads the Redbirds with a .338 batting average and has hit .500 (16-for-32) in her last 10 games. During that stretch, the sophomore third baseman has driven in five runs, scored seven and collected seven extra-base hits. Olson leads the team with 10 home runs on the season.
Evansville enters the weekend in last place in the MVC standings (13-32, 3-7 MVC). The Purple Aces were swept by Indiana State in their last Valley series last weekend and have been swept in three conference series this year. UE beat Bradley twice and topped Southern Illinois in their only meeting of the season.
The Purple Aces split with Austin Peay in their final non-conference series of the year Tuesday.
The Redbirds and Aces will square off on Saturday in a doubleheader at noon and conclude the three-game set with a single-game on Sunday at noon.
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