NORMAL, Ill. – It will be a battle between the top two softball teams in the Missouri Valley Conference this weekend, as UNI (25-16, 15-6 MVC) travels to Marian Kneer Stadium to take on Illinois State (27-7, 13-3 MVC) in the Redbirds' final series at home this season.
The Redbirds and the Panthers are set to play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m., before wrapping up the series on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Illinois State softball program will recognize and celebrate their teammate Coen between games on Saturday, before honoring its student manager and five seniors at the conclusion of Sunday's contest. At this time, attendance is limited to player pass list only and not open to the general public.
REDBIRDS RECEIVING VOTES
Illinois State is receiving votes in the latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Tuesday. This is the second time in five seasons - and first time since 2017 - that the Redbirds have been mentioned in the poll. Prior to then, ISU was receiving votes in the season-opening coaches' poll in 2011.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
As a team, the Redbirds rank in the top 25 in NCAA Division I in win-loss percentage, earned run average (ERA) and shutouts. Mack Leonard, who leads the team at the plate with a .417 batting average and nine home runs, ranks among the best in the nation in on-base percentage. In the circle, Leonard and Morgan Day have combined for 26 of ISU's 27 victories and all the Redbirds' shutouts. Day, who has the sixth-most strikeouts in NCAA Division I with 212, ranks 12th nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (11.0).
RUN PRODUCIN' REDBIRDS
The Redbirds have allowed just one run in their last five contests, outscoring their opponents in that stretch, 25-1. During MVC play alone, Illinois State has scratched 82 runs on the board, compared to the 28 its allowed, and are hitting at a .252 clip as a group.
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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