NORMAL, Ill. – Redbird softball will travel to Northern Kentucky for the final preseason tournament before the beginning of Missouri Valley play. The tournament was originally slated to begin Mar. 8 and finish Mar. 12, but due to weather, the tournament has been moved to take place over two days beginning Sunday, Mar.10. The 'Birds will take on Bowling Green, the host team, Northern Kentucky as well as, for the second time this season, the Michigan Wolverines.
The Redbirds updated schedule will now feature three games with a lone game on Sunday, Mar. 10 against Bowling Green at 9:00 a.m. CT. The 'Birds will then play on Monday, Mar. 11 against Michigan at 12:00 p.m. CT, followed by another at 2:30 p.m. CT against the host team, Northern Kentucky.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Sunday, Mar. 10 – Illinois State vs Bowling Green – 9:00 a.m. CT
Monday, Mar. 11 – Illinois State vs Michigan – 12:00 p.m. CT
Monday, Mar. 11 – Illinois State at Northern Kentucky – 2:30 p.m. CT
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Bowling Green is currently 1-9, with a .100 winning percentage. The Falcons opened their season with a 7-3 win against Furman during the Battle at the Beach tournament in Conway, S.C. Bowling has been unable to earn a victory since the opening game of the season.
The host team, Northern Kentucky, is currently 5-8 on the 2024 season with a .385 winning percentage. The Norse have taken wins over programs such as Queens University, DePaul, Rhode Island, and Charleston Southern. The Norse participated in the Wofford Invitational from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, going 2-5, before taking on a three-game series against Charleston Southern, where they earned a sole victory. This tournament marks the first time NKU has hosted a home tournament.
The Michigan Wolverines are currently 11-9 on the 2024 season taking wins over top ranked programs such as defeating the No.13/17 ranked Florida Gators, twice. The Wolverines attended the Judi Garman Classic in their last appearance on the diamond from Feb. 29 to Mar. 2 where the went 1-4 against competitive teams such as No. 17 Texas A&M, No. 18 UCLA, and No. 13 Florida. Earlier in the year, the Redbirds and the Wolverines battled it out in Michigan's first game of the year, where the 'Birds ended up taking the 5-3 defeat in a battle to the finish.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds and the Falcons have faced one another six times in their histories, with the first contest dating back to April 23, 1983 where the 'Birds took the 2-1 victory. In the last meeting, which was over 20 years ago in 2003, the 'Birds fell in a 2-0 shutout. Illinois State leads the all-time series against the Falcons 4-2 as the programs will face each other for only the seventh time.
The Redbirds will have only faced Northern Kentucky once before, back on Feb. 27, 2021, where the Redbirds took the 4-0 victory. This is the second meeting of the two teams as well as the first time they will meet on the home field of the Norse in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
Michigan leads the all-time series against the Redbirds with 15 wins to the Redbird's three. The teams met for the first time 45 years ago, where Illinois State took up the shutout, 2-0 victory on April. 27. In the most recent meeting of the teams, Michigan took the 5-3 victory over the 'Birds at the USF-Rawlings Tournament earlier this season. The Redbirds have only defeated Michigan as a ranked opponent once in their history, in Mar. 2012 while the Wolverines were No. 14 in the country.
NEWS & NOTES
Milestones Galore: Since the beginning of the season, four Redbirds have earned career milestones. Delainey Bryant, Abby Knight, and Jayden Standish, each earned their 100th career-hit, while Paige McLeod tossed her first-career no hitter.
Back at it Again: The Redbirds will meet the Wolverines for the second time this year and the 19th time in program history.
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