NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team will make its first appearance at Marian Kneer Stadium Wednesday night, when it hosts Big Ten opponent Iowa for a mid-week contest. First pitch between the Redbirds and the Hawkeyes is set for 5 p.m. CT.
SERIES HISTORY
Iowa holds a 33-19 series advantage over the Redbirds, despite ISU taking three of the last four meetings between the two programs. This match-up will be the first since 2012 and the first at Marian Kneer Stadium since the 2009 season.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa's game at Illinois State on Wednesday marks the first of several mid-week matchups the Hawkeyes have remaining on their schedule. The Hawkeyes have had a weekend off from competition, most recently going 3-1 at SIU's Saluki Invitational. Iowa's longest win streak of the season was a nine-game stretch without a loss, which included a 5-0 record at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Orlando.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State opened MVC play with its third-straight series sweep of Evansville over the weekend, grabbing a pair of run-rule victories over the Purple Aces. The Redbirds outscored the Purple Aces 19-1 in twin bill action on Saturday, before coming out on top in a 16-8 slugfest in Sunday's series finale. ISU's 35 runs scored marks the fifth time in program history that the Redbirds have eclipsed 30 runs in a conference series, and matches a program record for the most runs scored in a Valley series, as ISU also scored 35 against SIU in 2014. ISU's 3-0 start to MVC play is just the third time in 10 seasons that the Redbirds have done so, also starting Valley play with a perfect 3-0 record during the 2010 and 2017 campaigns.
ON DECK
The Redbirds resume Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend on the road at Indiana State. A doubleheader is slated to begin at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, before the three-game set wraps up on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
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