NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team will resume Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend, when it travels to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake at Buel Field. A doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, before the three-game series concludes at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State holds a 63-30 series advantage over Drake, despite the Bulldogs sweeping the three-game set at Marian Kneer Stadium last season. The Redbirds hold an impressive 30-11 mark on the road versus the Bulldogs, capturing the three-game sweep of Drake in the 2001, 2007 and 2017 seasons.
SCOUTING DRAKE
Drake reached 30 wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons on Wednesday night with a 5-0 shutout of Iowa to improve to 30-13 overall and 9-0 at Buel Field. The Bulldogs are riding a 16-game win streak heading into the series against the Redbirds with a 15-1 mark in Valley play. Drake's lone MVC loss was a 1-0 setback to Southern Illinois on March 17, and the Bulldogs haven't fallen since.
LAST TIME OUT
The Illinois State softball team trailed by four runs heading into the sixth inning on Tuesday night at DePaul, before the Redbirds stormed back and scored a pair of runs in the sixth and the seventh to play their first extra-inning contest of the season.
Anni Borries' two-out double in the sixth sent Allison Spence and Andrea Coursey charging across home plate, as ISU trailed 5-3 going into the home half of the inning. Back-to-back wild pitches by DePaul brought Shannon Felde across home plate to make it a 5-4 game in the top of the seventh. A sac fly to left field by Ellie Weltha brought Riley Hale home to knot the game at five-all. The Blue Demons fought off the Redbird rally, securing the 6-5 walk-off win with a double to left field in the bottom of the ninth.
ON DECK
Illinois State will head west for a doubleheader at Bradley on Tuesday, beginning at 3 p.m., before hosting Loyola Chicago for its final home series of the season. The Redbirds will recognize their five seniors – Ali Domkuski, Shannon Felde, Riley Hale, Kori Mesecher and Allison Spence – at the conclusion Sunday's game.
REGGIE'S KIDS CLUB DAY / DOUBLE-FOR-DOUBLE DAY
The Illinois State softball team will host Reggie's Kids Club Day on Saturday, April 27, when the Redbirds host Loyola Chicago at Marian Kneer Stadium. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. Activities will begin at 11 a.m. outside the gates of Marian Kneer Stadium with a pre-game fun zone. Kids club members will get to play yard games, including corn hole and giant Jenga prior to first pitch. One lucky Reggie's Kids Club member will have the opportunity to announce the Redbird softball batters during the game. There will also be an ISU-branded water bottle and Reggie Redbird foam finger giveaway at the gate, while supplies last.
Additionally, Saturday's doubleheader will serve as a Double-for-Double Day, as ISU students will earn double reward points for attending the games. The concession stand will feature a special for all fans – a free soda with a popcorn purchase.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
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