NORMAL, Ill. – After securing a series sweep of Bradley at home in a midweek contest, Illinois State softball (21-17, 11-3 MVC) will be back on the road in Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Drake Bulldogs (11-24, 4-9 MVC) for a three-game weekend series.
The series is set to begin on Friday, Apr. 14 with a doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m. CT and the second game will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. A single game is scheduled for Sunday, Apr. 16 at noon CT to finish the series.
The original schedule had single games set for Friday, Apr. 14 at 1 p.m. CT, Saturday, Apr. 15 at 2 p.m. CT and Sunday, Apr. 16 at noon CT. The schedule was adjusted due to weather concerns on Saturday, Apr. 15.
SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, Apr. 14 – Illinois State at Drake – 1 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Friday, Apr. 14 – Illinois State at Drake – 3:30 p.m. CT (ESPN3) [30 minutes after game one]
Sunday, Apr. 16 – Illinois State at Drake – noon CT (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State and Drake have played each other 102 times in program history with the Redbirds holding the all-time series record 66-36 over the Bulldogs. Illinois State has only won three games against Drake since 2018. The Bulldogs had won seven games in a row against the Redbirds before Illinois State finally snapped that streak by winning the final two games of the series in 2021.
Illinois State and Drake had to postpone the 2022 series due to weather. The Redbirds ended up hosting the Bulldogs for a midweek doubleheader where the teams traded run-rule wins. Illinois State beat Drake 8-0 in the first game on a walk-off, 2-RBI double by Brandi LaFountaine. Drake then dominated game two and beat the Redbirds 13-0 to win in five innings.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Drake currently holds an 11-24 overall record and a 4-9 record in conference play. The Bulldogs completed a sweep of Bradley and won one game against Murray State to collect their four MVC victories. Drake has been swept by Missouri State and Indiana State so far this season and recently lost a midweek game to in-state rival UNI.
Drake ended the 2022 season with a 21-29 overall record and went 14-12 in conference play. The Bulldogs played Bradley in the opening game of the MVC Tournament and won, but then faced top-seeded UNI in the next round and lost to the Panthers to end their 2022 campaign.
NEWS & NOTES
National Stats: As a team, Illinois State currently ranks 23rd in the nation in team fielding percentage (.975). As a team, the Redbirds are also 20th in total doubles (57) and 31st in doubles per game (1.50). Individually, Emme Olson ranks 86th in the country and first in the conference in the "toughest to strikeout" category with only 7 strikeouts on the season in 120 at bats.
Milestones Galore for Olson: Fifth-year senior Emme Olson has been racking up the milestones this season. She collected her 200th career hit in a 3-for-3 effort against Bradley on April 11. Her first hit of the game was a single through the left side for the 200th hit of her career. Olson is only the 7th Redbird in program history to collect 200+ career hits. She also knocked a double in the that game which tied her for the program record in career doubles with Kara Nelson (49 doubles is the program record). She is only one double shy of breaking that record.
Ross in the Circle: Senior pitcher Hannah Ross made four starts in a span of seven days (April 5-11) for Illinois State who played six games in that time frame. Ross dished out 28 strikeouts in that span and only allowed four earned runs. Her first start of the week was on April 5 against Bradley where she collected a complete game shutout and a career-high in strikeouts with 11 Ks. She tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts as the Redbirds beat Missouri State 7-0 in Ross' second start of the week (April 7). Heading into her third start of the week, Ross had not allowed an earned run in 21.1 IP and made it an additional 2.2 IP before allowing her first earned run in her last four appearances. She took the loss in a 4-1 victory for the Bears. In her final start in that seven-day span, Ross faced Bradley again and dished out four strikeouts in another complete game effort. She recorded her 200th career strikeout in that game.
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