NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State softball will travel to Murray, Ky. on Mar. 10-11 for its final tune-up at the Racer Classic hosted by Murray State prior to the start of the Missouri Valley Conference season the following weekend (Mar. 17-19).
The Redbirds will play two games against the Murray State Racers (12-7), a fellow MVC member, and two games against Youngstown State (7-9) over the course of two days. The contests between Illinois State and Murray State will not be counted as MVC games, but will serve as a good test for the two programs as they do not play each other during the 2023 conference season.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Mar. 10 – Illinois State vs. Youngstown State – 10 a.m. CT
Friday, Mar. 10 – Illinois State at Murray State – 12:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Mar. 11 – Illinois State vs. Youngstown State – 10 a.m. CT
Saturday, Mar. 11 – Illinois State at Murray State – 3 p.m. CT
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Youngstown is currently 7-9 through the first four weeks of the 2023 season. The Penguins hold wins over Norfolk State, Lafayette, Providence, Saint Louis, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Memphis.
Murray State sits at 12-7 overall to start the 2023 season. The Racers are currently fourth in the MVC in their first season as a member. Illinois State and Murray State will not meet during the regular conference season in 2023, so this preseason tournament will serve as a good test for the two programs prior to the start of the conference season the following weekend. The Racers were picked to finish second in the MVC in their first year with the conference while the Redbirds were picked to finish fifth.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State and Youngstown State have met once in program history and that was over 40 years ago. The Redbirds bested the Penguins 1-0 in that lone contest.
Illinois State and Murray State have met once in program history in the National Invitational Softball Championship in 2017. The Redbirds beat the Racers 2-0. These two programs will be seeing a lot more of each other in the coming years as Murray State entered the Missouri Valley Conference in 2023.
NEWS & NOTES
Must be something with the name: Senior Hannah Ross and freshmen Hannah Meshnick and Hannah Meeks have collectively pitched 104 innings out of the Redbirds' total 119.1 innings. Together, the "Hannahs" have made 25 appearances in the circle, have thrown 50 strikeouts and hold five wins. Must be something with the name, but these three "Hannah" pitchers are the go-to options in the circle for Illinois State.
Murray State Tournament: While the conference season does not begin until the following weekend (Mar. 17-19), the Redbirds and Racers will meet for a non-conference matchup at the Racer Classic hosted by Murray State. These two contests will serve as a good test for these programs prior to the start of the MVC season as the Redbirds and Racers will not see each other in the regular season. Murray State was picked to finish second in the conference in its first season in the MVC while the Redbirds were picked to finish fifth. It will be an exciting matchup this weekend!
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