NORMAL, Ill. – In one final tune up before Missouri Valley Conference play starts at Southern Illinois this weekend, Illinois State will travel east on I-74 Wednesday to take on in-state foe Illinois in a non-conference midweek clash at Eichelberger Field. First pitch between the Illini and the Redbirds is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the game will air on B1G+.
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
• The Illini (11-9) picked up a win against MVC foe Indiana State on Tuesday by a score of 6-4 at Eichelberger Field. That followed a 5-0 win over Saint Louis at home last Friday in Illinois' home opener.
• Megan Nuechterlein (2-2) earned her fifth start of the year and picked up the win, after she went 4.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits while fanning one. Lauren Wiles tossed 2.0 innings and Karley Yergler earned the save as she pitched the final inning.
• Offensively, Eileen Donahue posted a 3-for-3 day at the plate, and Paige Berkmeyer led the team with four RBI while Taylor Porter and Adisyn Caryl added a pair of runs each.
REDBIRD NEWS & NOTES
• Illinois State (6-17) participated in the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Tournament hosted by Central Arkansas last weekend, where they went 1-4 overall.
• The Redbird bats were hot in their second game of the day last Friday against the host Bears, as they collected a season-high 12 hits and scored a season-best 10 runs to pick up a 10-7 win in game two at Farris Field.
• ISU hit a pair of home runs in the game, with Delainey Bryant launching her second of the year and Abby Knight recording her first of the season. Knight finished the game 4-for-4, with two runs score and an RBI in the win over the Bears and paced the Redbirds over the weekend batting .462 (6-for-13) with four runs score, three walks and two runs scored.
• Following Wednesday's game, the Redbirds will head to Carbondale, Illinois, to open MVC play against last season's conference champs the Southern Illinois Salukis.
• Illinois State features four standouts selected for the 2025 All-MVC preseason team in seniors Delainey Bryant and Bella Wilkerson and sophomores Paige McLeod and Hopkins. The four selections led all MVC programs.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB), Instagram (@redbirdsoftball), and Facebook (Illinois State Redbird Softball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
