NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (27-6, 13-2 MVC) will make the short trip to Peoria, Illinois, Tuesday afternoon to wrap up its three-game series with Bradley (16-17, 9-11 MVC). First pitch between the Redbirds and the Braves is set for 3 p.m.
PREPARE FOR LIFTOFF
Illinois State belted eight home runs this week, as the Redbirds went a perfect 4-0 with wins over Bradley and Evansville. The Redbirds hit four home runs in the series-opening run rule of the Braves – the first time ISU hit four in a single game since 2017. Mack Leonard accounted for two of the four, before adding to her season total in a run rule of the Purple Aces. Reili Gardner also got in on the action in Sunday's 9-0 win at Evansville, launching her first career homer in the victory, and rookie Jayden Standish contributed her fifth on the year.
1-2 PUNCH
Morgan Day and Mack Leonard went a combined 4-0 in the circle this week, posting a 0.00 team ERA. Day tossed a pair of one-hitters and eclipsed 200 strikeouts on the year, while neither Redbird allowed an extra-base hit in their outings. The duo held their opponents to a .111 batting average and collectively allowed just nine hits and 11 walks, while fanning 28.
With Day's ninth strikeout against the Purple Aces, the senior became the fourth Redbird in program history to reach 200 K's, as it was the fifth time it had been accomplished. Former ISU standout Audra Rast holds the single season record of 299 that was set in 2003.
RED-HOT REDBIRDS
Heading into this week's competition, the Redbirds are off to their best start since 1981, sitting at 27-6 overall and 13-2 in league play. Three of ISU's six 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 19 of their last 21 outings.
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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