Aug. 19, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer released the upcoming fall schedule for the Redbird softball team on Thursday. The 2010 fall schedule consists of four home events, a doubleheader at Wisconsin and the State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship.
"With a limit of eight games during the fall, we try to play as many quality opponents as possible," Fischer said. "Every year we try to go somewhere different and play a Division I opponent that we do not have the opportunity to play in the regular season, and this fall we will go to Wisconsin for a doubleheader."
The fall slate kicks off Sept. 12 with the annual Alumni Game. Later that week, ISU will host Lake Land Community College (Sept. 16) at Marian Kneer Stadium. The Redbirds will then host Heartland Community College (Sept. 23) before traveling to Madison, Wis. for the doubleheader with Wisconsin (Sept. 26).
"The Alumni Game is a very competitive challenge for our players and is one of the most intense games of the fall season," Fischer said. "This game is for bragging rights and the chance to win the Redbird Gnome, a trophy we give to the winner of the Alumni Game each year. It is a great opportunity for our younger players to meet some of our former players and we welcome everyone who is an Illinois State alum to attend this event."
The Redbirds will open October by participating in the State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship, to be held at Champion Fields in Normal, Ill., and then conclude the fall season with Parents and Friends Day on Oct. 10.
"The State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championships is a great opportunity for the Division I programs in Illinois to showcase the softball talent that exists in Illinois," Fischer said. "This year we have 10 of the 12 Division I programs participating with, Lake Land Community College and Heartland Community College rounding out the field. Matt Hawkins of the Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission has spearheaded the effort for this event since it began in 2008 and it is a great event for recruits and fans of fastpitch softball in Illinois."
Illinois State finished the regular season with a record of 32-20 in 2009, finished second in the Missouri Valley regular-season standings and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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