NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team is set to continue its nonconference slate this weekend when it travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the Purple & Gold Challenge, hosted by No. 10/9 LSU, March 1-3.
The Redbirds will face Stephen F. Austin and USC Upstate in twin bill action at Tiger Park on Friday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT, before returning to the field on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT to take on No. 16/15 Indiana and the tournament host Tigers at 7:30 p.m. CT. The five-game set will conclude on Sunday with another match-up versus the Hoosiers at 9 a.m. CT.
REDBIRDS VS. THE FIELD
The Redbirds' battle versus USC Upstate marks the first meeting between the two programs, while it will be just the third time in program history, and first time since 1987, that Illinois State will face SFA. It will be the second-straight year that Illinois State plays a pair of games against Indiana, as the two split last season. The Redbirds hold a slim 21-19 series advantage over the Hoosiers.
The Tigers have taken the last four games against Illinois State, dating back to the 2016 season, while the Redbirds' lone win in the series match-up came in 1980.
SHUTTING DOWN THE CIRCLE
Ali Domkuski and Morgan Day were unstoppable in Sunday's 1-0 win over Florida A&M. Domkuski allowed just three hits and one walk to go with a trio of strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. Day checked into the circle in relief in the top of the seventh with a pair of runners on, and fanned the first batter she faced, before a pop up to Emme Olson helped the Redbirds pull off the two-game sweep of the Rattlers.
RAKING AGAINST THE RATTLERS
The Redbirds registered double-digit hits (10) for just the second time in 2019 Saturday night against Florida A&M to take the 6-3 victory over the Rattlers. Centerfielder Alyssa Wiebel launched her second grand slam of the season, joining ISU alums Jordan de los Reyes (2015), Laura Canopy (2013) and Jhavon Hamilton (2013) on the list of Redbirds to have hit a pair of grand slams in a single season over the last six years.
FLORIDA FINALE
Despite falling to No. 3 Florida in the 2019 series finale versus the Gators on Saturday morning, ISU registered seven hits - the most against Florida in the 15-game series history, while its two runs scored in the 10-2 setback matched a series high against the Gators. ISU played Florida on four different occasions to start 2019, going 0-4 against the national powerhouse.
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