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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team will play its last home games of the 2016 season this weekend when it hosts Drake in a three-game series. Because of expected inclement weather, the series has been moved up a day. A doubleheader will be played Friday with the finale to be played Saturday.
The Redbirds are coming off of a doubleheader split against Bradley Tuesday. ISU dropped the first game, 4-1, on a walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh. The Redbirds bounced back in game two, winning 11-3 in six innings.
In game two, Sarah Finck pitched six innings and allowed six hits and three earned runs, while allowing five strikeouts and one walk. At the plate, she was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Riley Strandgard finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Seven Redbirds recorded a hit and six of the seven recorded multiple hits in the game.
ISU (16-29, 8-11 MVC) will play six more games in MVC play before the MVC Tournament in Carbondale, Illinois, May 12-14.
First pitch Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. with game two to follow at 6 p.m. Saturday's game will begin at noon, but all times are subject to change due to weather. Admission is free to all games.
Series History
Illinois State owns a 59-26 all-time record over Drake, but the Bulldogs took two out of three from the Redbirds last season in Des Moines. ISU won the finale, 7-1, but Drake won the first two games by a combined score of 10-0. ISU won the first 12 meetings and won the last meeting in Normal, 11-0, in 2014. The two teams have split the last 10 meetings.
How to Follow Along
A live audio and video broadcast will be available for all three games this weekend. In addition, live stats will be available, and all links can be found on GoRedbirds.com. For in-game updates, follow the team on Twitter @RedbirdsSB.
Promotions
Saturday's game will a camp reunion at Marian Kneer Stadium and all kids who participated in a Redbird softball camp are invited back to help cheer on the team. There will be a raffle throughout the game and items include a signed softball, a signed t-shirt, and signed posters. All items are signed by the entire team. Saturday's game will also be Senior Day.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
