NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (18-4, 5-0 MVC) will look to remain undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, when it travels to Drake (5-19, 1-5 MVC) for a three-game series.
Friday's doubleheader between the Redbirds and the Bulldogs is set to begin at 2 p.m., while a single game beginning at 12 p.m. is scheduled for Saturday.
RED-HOT REDBIRDS
Heading into this weekend, the Redbirds are off to their best start since 1988, sitting at 18-4 overall. Three of ISU's four losses this season have come against nationally-ranked teams (Clemson, Tennessee and Kentucky). The Redbirds have been shut out just twice and are winners of their last 10 games.
DYNAMIC DUO
Mack Leonard and Morgan Day were named the MVC Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on March 29 after a trio of impressive outings against the Huskies and the Ramblers. Leonard boasted a .857 batting average (6-for-7), 2.286 slugging percentage and .909 on-base percentage. She led the team in all offensive categories this week, including home runs (3), runs scored (7) and RBIs (6), while taking a team-high 16 totals bases in her three outings. Day went 3-0 in the circle this week, hurling 32 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work while posting a 1.19 ERA and holding her opponents to a .143 batting average for the week.
GOING STREAKING
The Redbirds are riding a 10-game win streak entering this weekend's conference series at Drake. The last time Illinois State won 10 straight was in 2017, when the Redbirds eventually saw its streak come to an end after 11 games.
LONG BALL LEONARD
Mack Leonard bombed three home runs in three wins for the Redbirds this week, including a pair against Loyola in the series opener. Leonard became just the third Redbird in five seasons to hit two home runs in a game and is up to a team-leading five home runs on the year.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball). Game dates, times, opponents and locations are all subject to change.
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