Illinois State Hosts Valparaiso for Final Home Series

NORMAL, Ill. – For its final home series of the 2022 season, Illinois State softball (19-25, 9-11 MVC) will host the Valparaiso Beacons (12-28, 3-18 MVC) for a three-game set beginning on Saturday, April 30 at 12 p.m. at Marian Kneer Stadium.

On Sunday, May 1, the Redbirds will honor their 2022 senior class with a post-game ceremony as well as in-game promotions and activities. 

GAME INFORMATION

Illinois State (19-25, 9-11 MVC) vs. Valparaiso (12-28, 3-18 MVC)

Dates/Times:

Saturday, April 30 – 12 p.m. CT

Saturday, April 30 – 2:30 p.m. CT

Sunday, May 1 – 12 p.m. CT

City: Normal, Ill.

Field: Marian Kneer Stadium

TV: ESPN3 (Saturday doubleheader)

Radio: WZND (Sunday game)

SERIES HISTORY

Valparaiso joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2018. Since then, the Redbirds have won eight of 10 contests against the Beacons. The last time Valparaiso won was back on May 6, 2018, and Valpo ended up taking the series that season (2-1). This will be the first time in four years that the Redbirds and Beacons will meet in Normal, Ill. (no conference season in 2020). These programs have met a total of 12 times, and of those 12 times, the Redbirds have shutout the Beacons in six contests. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

In 2021, the Beacons were 5-35 overall and 1-23 in conference. Valpo was 0-11 at home, and its only conference win was over Bradley early in the season. Valparaiso enters this three-game series with a 12-28 overall record and a 3-18 conference record. The Beacons just secured their first series victory of the 2022 season over the Loyola Ramblers (2-1). 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE 'BIRDS:

Illinois State faced Bradley in the rubber match of the three-game series this past week. The Braves took a 5-2 decision over the Redbirds to earn the series victory at Marian Kneer Stadium. Despite the loss, Illinois State turned three double plays in crucial moments, and the defense committed no errors. Prior to the midweek with Bradley, the Redbirds traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa and dropped all three games to the Panthers in a couple of close contests. 

NOTES

TRIPLE-DOUBLE: Illinois State's defense was locked in against Bradley in the final game of the series between these I-74 rivals. The Redbirds turned three double plays in the contest. The first double play ended the first inning as Delainey Bryant scooped the ball, tagged second unassisted, and threw to first. After giving up a leadoff walk in the sixth, Michele Calabrese executed the second double play as she caught a shallow pop up in right field and threw to first to catch the runner too far off the bag. The final double play was a spectacular catch and throw from Jayden Standish. Standish stretched to grab a pop-up peeling foul, set her feet, and threw a dart to Abby Knight at first to double up the runner. 

BOOM GOES THE DAYNA-MITE: Another big power weekend for the junior out of Decatur, as catcher Dayna Kennedy blasted two home runs in the doubleheader against UNI. Kennedy, over the three-game series, was 4-for-7 with 2 HR, 3 RBI, and 2 R. She was solid behind the plate as well. Kennedy caught three runners stealing against the Panthers, a team that has 68 steals on 81 attempts which is the most in the league.

NATIONAL STATS: Freshman Delainey Bryant is currently tied for 28th in NCAA Division I softball for triples in the 2022 season, currently with 4. Only three freshmen are ranked in the top 50 in triples this season. Bryant is also tied for 40th in triples per game this season, playing in 43 games with 4 triples (.10 PG). There are only 6 freshmen in the top 50 in triples per game.

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