April 9, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. –The Illinois State softball team will host Missouri Valley Conference rival Evansville in a three-game series at the Marian Kneer Softball Stadium in Normal, Ill., Saturday and Sunday, as it looks to remain perfect in Valley play. The first pitch is slated for noon Saturday.
Illinois State has won nine-straight games heading into this weekend’s three-game series.
Saturday is “Faculty/Staff Day” at the Marian Kneer Softball Stadium. Faculty/staff will be able to attend a cookout between games. Sunday will be “Alumni Day” with an alumni pre-game tailgate beginning at 11 a.m.
Live stats for each game of the Illinois State-Evansville series will be available on GoRedbirds.com.
Illinois State has leads the all-time series against Evansville, owning a 27-16 advantage over the Purple Aces. Last season, ISU split the first day of play with the Purple Aces. In the first game, ISU topped Evansville, 5-2, but fell in the second game, 9-8. Illinois State shutout Evansville, 4-0, in the series-finale.
Illinois State is led by Kara Nelson, who leads all Valley active players in career hits (197) and runs scored (135). Nelson also leads the Valley and the Redbirds in batting average with a .438. The junior second baseman has 46 hits and 30 runs so far in the 2010 season.
Abby Olson leads the Redbirds with 14 home runs, a .977 slugging percentage and 37 hits in 86 at bats. Olson was named the MVC Athlete of the Week Monday for the third time this season.
The Redbirds' pitching staff owns a combined 4.19 ERA entering this weekend's series. ISU is holding opposing batters to a .246 batting average. Jordan Birch grabbed two wins against Indiana State Tuesday to improve her record to 9-5, while Megan Warner holds a record of 8-4.
Illinois State is coming off a mid-week doubleheader sweep over Indiana State Tuesday afternoon at Price Field in Terre Haute, Ind.
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