NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State softball (20-17, 10-3 MVC) is set to host Bradley (10-31, 2-12 MVC) for the final game of the 2023 season series between the Redbirds and Braves on Tuesday, Apr. 11 at 5 p.m. CT at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Illinois State took both games of the midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 5 on the Braves home field in Peoria, Ill. The Redbirds are looking to get back in the win column after suffering a series loss to Missouri State and will attempt to sweep their third series of the 2023 conference season against Bradley. Illinois State currently sits at third in the conference with a 10-3 record as UNI (11-1) and Missouri State (11-3) hold the top two sports and Southern Illinois (10-4) follows the Redbirds closely in fourth.Â
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Bradley
Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Normal, Ill. (Marian Kneer Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
SERIES RESULTS (FIRST TWO GAMES)
Wednesday, April 5 – Illinois State at Bradley – ILS won 3-0
Wednesday, April 5 – Illinois State at Bradley – ILS won 6-3
Illinois State and Bradley met on Wed., April 5 to begin the three-game series. The Redbirds won both games of a doubleheader that day with Hannah Ross pitching a complete game shutout with 11 Ks in the first game of the day. The second game was a come-from-behind victory for the 'Birds that they won 6-3.Â
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State and Bradley met for the 99th, 100th and 101st times last season. Bradley took the season series 2-1 in 2022 as the Braves took the first game and the rubber match between the squads. The rivalry between these two schools in every sport is one of the greatest rivalries in the Missouri Valley Conference - the I-74 Rivalry. Illinois State currently holds the all-time series record over the Braves at 76-27 after the Redbirds beat the Braves in the first two games of the 2023 series.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Bradley currently holds a 10-31 record while posting a 2-12 conference record. The Braves' two conference wins were over Evansville to win the series 2-1, but Bradley got swept by MVC newcomer Murray State and UNI so far this season. At one point, Bradley had won four in a row, but the Braves are currently on a 14-game slide with their last win coming against Evansville on Mar. 19. Bradley entered the first two games against Illinois State on a nine-game losing streak and lost both games of the doubleheader to the Redbirds then got swept by the Drake Bulldogs.Â
The Braves ended at .500 with a 26-26 overall record while posting a 13-14 record in conference play in 2022. Bradley collected two series sweeps over Valparaiso and Southern Illinois in 2022 while also winning the series over Illinois State 2-1. The Braves only got swept once themselves against Drake, but they one at least one game of every other MVC series a season ago. Grace French, a graduate pitcher/utility, earned NFCA All-Region honors for the Braves in 2022. Bradley also had four players earned All-MVC honors during the 2022 season.
NEWS & NOTES
National Stats:Â As a team, Illinois State currently ranks 25th in the nation in team fielding percentage (.975). As a team, the Redbirds are also 28th in total doubles (55) and 33rd in doubles per game (1.49). Individually, Emme Olson ranks 93rd in the country and first in the conference in the "toughest to strikeout" category with only 7 strikeouts on the season in 117 at bats.
Catch of the Year??:Â Senior right fielder Brandi LaFountaine made a diving grab in foul territory in the second game of the series versus Missouri State. She ran down a ball that seemed like it was going to land in the visitor bullpen, but made the grab just shy of the fence and landed on top of the Redbirds' rolled up tarp. Her snag was posted by NCAA Softball, espnW and made it on Sports Center Top 10 plays.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB), Instagram (@redbirdsoftball), and Facebook (Illinois State Redbird Softball).
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