NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (14-23, 5-5 MVC) will return to Marian Kneer Stadium this weekend to host Evansville (11-23, 4-7 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference action.
Saturday's originally scheduled doubleheader will now be moved up to Friday with a 1 p.m. first pitch, with the second game to follow at approximately 3:30 p.m. The three-game series will conclude at 11 a.m. on Saturday due to impending inclement weather that is expected in the Bloomington-Normal area on Sunday. All three games are set to be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3.
Redbirds vs. Purple Aces
Illinois State holds the 44-21 series advantage over Evansville, as the Redbirds have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Purple Aces that includes a trio of run-rule victories. The Redbirds have taken four of the last five games at Marian Kneer Stadium. Due to weather in Evansville last season, the three-game series was adjusted to a two-game set in which Illinois State run-ruled the Purple Aces in both games, winnings 18-0 in five and 10-1 in six innings.
Pitching a Pair
Morgan Day and Sarah Finck threw heat in the circle for the Redbirds this past week, combining to limit Loyola to just four hits, three walks while striking out 11 Ramblers in 12 innings with two complete game shutouts. In the series opener, Day fanned six Ramblers while giving up just two hits and three walks in seven innings of work for her seventh complete game of the season. She now leads the Redbirds with a perfect 3-0 record in Valley play with a 2.83 ERA after Saturday's win. Day's performance set up Finck for success on Sunday, as the senior didn't give up a single walk, allowing just two Ramblers to even make it on base with a pair of hits by Loyola to give Illinois State the 8-0 run-rule shutout. Her performance led to back-to-back shutouts for the Redbirds, the first time since the 2012 NCAA Regional that the feat had been accomplished by Illinois State.
Running Over the Ramblers
Illinois State didn't allow a single run by Loyola in either game this past weekend in the weather-shortened series in Chicago, registering a pair of shutouts that included an 8-0 run-rule decision in Sunday's series finale. A six-run top of the fifth helped the Redbirds run-rule their first Valley opponent of the season and first since Illinois State powered past Evansville last season, 18-0, in five innings. Dating back to last season, the Redbirds have outscored the Ramblers, 31-2, as Illinois State closed the three-game set in 2017 with a massive 15-0 victory over Loyola.
Preseason MVC
Returning starters and 2017 MVC first-team selections, utility player Shannon Felde, pitcher Sarah Finck, outfielder Riley Hale and first baseman Allison Spence, were named to the Missouri Valley Conference's 2018 preseason all-conference team. Illinois State was selected as the favorite to repeat as the Valley champion in 2018, receiving 88 points and two first-place votes. Southern Illinois, UNI and Drake each received multiple first-place votes, selected second, third and fourth, respectively.
Schedule Outlook
Illinois State begins the 2018 campaign on the road at five tournaments and plays two MVC series before the home opener on March 30. The nonconference slate features 12 NCAA Tournament teams from 2017, including super regional winner LSU, Women's College World Series runner-up Florida and back-to-back national champion Oklahoma. The team will also play three NCAA Tournament teams after beginning conference play: Southern Illinois, the reigning MVC Tournament champion, DePaul, the 2017 BIG EAST Tournament champion, and Illinois. The Redbirds will face seven teams ranked in the NCFA's preseason coaches' Top 25.
New to the Birdhouse
The Illinois State softball team added five newcomers to its roster in 2018, all hailing from Illinois. The Redbird freshmen pack a punch as all five were four-year varsity letter-winners and multi-sport athletes in high school. As a group, the class won eight IHSA regional championships and four sectional championships, while winning ASA state and northern national championships. Within the freshman class, there is an IHSA career RBI record holder, Herald & Review Player of the Year, team MVPs, members of NHS, and a senior class Valedictorian.
Up Next
Illinois State will make the quick drive up Interstate 74 on April 18 for a midweek doubleheader at Bradley beginning at 3:30 p.m. before hosting the league-leading Drake Bulldogs on April 21-22. The Redbirds' pair of contests against the Braves will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3. Illinois State will make its debut on ESPN+ - the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer and International group in partnership with ESPN.
About ESPN+
Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launching on Thursday, April 12, ESPN+ subscribers will receive thousands of additional live events, original shows and films, and an on-demand library, which is not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ will not include access to stream ESPN's existing linear networks and ESPN3.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter and Instagram @RedbirdsSB.
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