Dec. 6, 2011
2012 Schedule
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State softball team will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, as head coach Melinda Fisher released the Redbirds' 2012 schedule Tuesday afternoon. The Redbirds will play 14 games against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season, including contests with 2011 national champion Arizona State and 2011 national runner-up Florida.
Illinois State's 2012 slate consists of 53 games, including 14 that will be played at Marian Kneer Softball Stadium, where the Redbirds will host in-state rival DePaul and Missouri Valley Conference opponents Wichita State, Evansville, Drake, Indiana State and Creighton. ISU will play a total of three games against teams that advanced to the Women's College World Series (WCWS) last season and eight contests against programs that won at least 40 games in 2011.
The Redbirds will be on the road for their first 27 games and will open the season in Tampa, Fla., at the USF Tournament (Feb. 10-12). Illinois State will play five games during the three-day event, highlighted by a matchup with Florida. ISU will also face Maine, Long Island, Florida Gulf Coast and host South Florida during the season-opening weekend.
The Redbirds will continue their slate at the Littlewood Classic (Feb. 17-19) in Tempe, Ariz., where they will meet 2011 national champion Arizona State, Iowa, Central Michigan and Minnesota. Illinois State will return to Florida for the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Feb. 24-26) in Clearwater, Fla., where it will play three games against 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifiers Michigan, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.
ISU will be in the Sunshine State the very next weekend for the Citrus Classic (March 2-4) in Orlando, Fla. The Redbirds will once again be on the diamond for five games in three days, featuring a contest with WCWS qualifier Baylor. Illinois State's other opponents at the Citrus Classic include Georgetown, North Carolina, South Alabama and Fordham.
ISU will be in Louisville, Ky., for the Red and Black Tournament (March 11-12), before opening conference play at Missouri State March 16. In Louisville, the Redbirds will play against Michigan, St. Louis and host Louisville.
After a three-game set with the Bears to open the MVC slate, Illinois State will host conference foe Wichita State in its home opener on Mar. 24. ISU will conclude the series with the Shockers on Mar. 25, before traveling to Carbondale, Ill., for a three-game set with in-state rival Southern Illinois (March 31-April 1).
The Redbirds will play another in-state rival in non-conference action when they make the trip to Urbana, Ill., for a game against Illinois (April 4). Illinois State will then return home for a three-game series with Evansville (April 6-7), a non-conference tilt with in-state rival and 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifier DePaul (April 11) and a three-game set with Drake (April 14-15).
ISU will be on the road for a doubleheader at Indiana State (April 18) and a three-game series with in-state rival Bradley (April 21-22), before returning home for a game with the Sycamores (April 24) and a series with Creighton (Apr. 28-29).
Illinois State will wrap up the 2012 regular season with a three-game series at Northern Iowa (May 5-6).
Postseason play begins May 10 with the State Farm MVC Softball Championship, hosted by Southern Illinois, while NCAA Tournament play begins May 18 with the 2012 WCWS taking play in Oklahoma City beginning May 31.
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