NORMAL, Ill. – After opening the season at the USF-Rawlings tournament, Redbird softball heads out west to the familiar, Littlewood Classic, a tournament in which the 'Birds have competed in 18 different times. The Redbirds will split time between the hosts of Arizona State in Tempe, and Grand Canyon in Phoenix, for a five-game weekend slate.
The Redbirds will begin the tournament Feb.16 in Tempe, taking on Brigham Young University (5-0) at 2:15 p.m. CT, with a game against the host team, ASU (2-2), to follow at 7:30 p.m. CT. On day two of the tournament, the 'Birds will have a site change to Phoenix, Ariz. beginning play with the Cal-Berkley (5-1) at 2:15 p.m. CT, before taking on the new host, GCU (4-1), at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Redbirds will close out the Littlewood Classic on Feb. 18 against the nationally ranked No. 21 Virginia Tech Hokies at 10:30 a.m. CT.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 16 – Illinois State vs. BYU – 2:15 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 16 – Illinois State at ASU – 7:30 p.m. CT (PAC12+)
Saturday, Feb. 17 – Illinois State vs. Cal – 2:15 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 17 – Illinois State at GCU – 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Sunday, Feb. 18 – Illinois State vs. No. 21 Virginia Tech – 10:30 a.m. CT
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
In 2023, BYU had an overall winning record of 35-17 going 11-4 in conference play. In the postseason, they competed in the National Invitational Softball Championship defeating San Jose State, Maryland, and South Dakota State, before falling 9-7 to Iowa.
ASU had an overall 2023 record of 22-26 winning just six games in conference. In the Pac-12 softball tournament, the Sun Devils fell in the first round at Arizona 13-4 in five innings.
The Cal Bears went 35-21-1 in 2023, with only a .396 in-conference winning percentage. Cal fell in the first round of the Pac-12. Tournament, but earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Bears lost in the first round against Missouri, but came back to defeat both Hofstra and and Mizzou in a second chance, before facing final elimination against the No. 1 team in the nation, the Oklahoma Sooners.
GCU had an impressive record a year ago, with 47 wins, and only 13 losses, seven of which came in conference. The Lopes clinched a bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the WAC in a mercy-rule 10-2 victory over Seattle. In the NCAA tournament, the Lopes again shocked the world beating the No. 2 nationally ranked UCLA Bruins, before losing back-to-back games against San Diego State and Liberty.
Virginia Tech finished with a 39-20 record going 14-10 in ACC play in 2023. In the ACC tournament, the Hokies beat Louisville, before falling to Florida State. With an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, the Hokies defeated a double dose of Boston University, but was knocked in double-elimination after a second loss to Georgia.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State and BYU have only met twice in their histories, with the most recent meeting coming a year ago, back at the Littlewood Classic, in a highly competitive one-run game. The 'Birds inaugural meeting with BYU came back in 2001 with a 2-5 loss to the Cougars.
Illinois State and Arizona State have been playing against one another since 1989, and their most recent matchup was, a year ago, in 2023. Arizona State leads the all-time series 41-3, with the most recent Redbird victory coming 14 years ago in 2010 back while ASU was ranked #5/7 in the nation. This will be Illinois State's 19th time attending the Littlewood Classic at ASU.
In the all-time series between the Redbirds and the Bears, Cal leads it 5-0 with their first matchup dating back to 1996. This week marks the sixth time the programs have faced one another, and the first since 2022.
The Redbirds and the Lopes have only met once before, almost a year ago to the date, where GCU won the one-run battle. In their second meeting, at the Littlewood Classic, again, the 'Birds to look to come out on top. Illinois State will travel to Phoenix from Tempe to take on GCU at its home stadium.
ISU and Virginia Tech have only met twice, and the series is split, with each program taking home one victory. In the most recent matchup, the 'Birds took home the 9-5 victory over the Hokies. The Redbirds will face the Hokies for the first time as a ranked opponent during the upcoming weekend.
NEWS & NOTES
Familiar Turf: This is the 19th time the Redbirds will travel to Tempe, Ariz. and the home of ASU to compete in the Littlewood Classic.
Baby Bird Debuts: Four different Redbirds made their first-career start in the USF-Rawlings Tournament. As well as this, all five Redbird freshman saw action, with Paige McLeod collecting her first-career strikeout, and Ella Boyer, Payton Brown, and Adisyn Hopkins all collecting their first-career hits.
100 Hit Club: During the USF-Rawlings Tournament, Delainey Bryant earned her 100th career-hit, and finished the tournament with 105 hits. Abby Knight is right behind her with 99th hits, looking to clinch the 100 mark this weekend.
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