Birds Head To Final Tournament Before MVC Play Starts

CONWAY, Ark. – The non-conference tournament portion of the Redbird softball schedule will come to a close this weekend, when ISU travels to Conway, Arkansas, to compete against Central Arkansas and Omaha at the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Tournament hosted by UCA at Farris Field at Natalie Shock Stadium.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, March 7 – Illinois State vs. Omaha – 12 p.m. CT
Friday, March 7 – Illinois State at Central Arkansas – 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 8 – Illinois State vs. Omaha – 11 a.m. CT
Saturday, March 8 – Illinois State at Central Arkansas – 4 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 9 – Illinois State at Central Arkansas – 12 p.m. CT

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
•    Central Arkansas (8-11) has seen most of its success come at home, including a 3-1 showing in the last home tournament. UCA split two midweek contests earlier this week on Monday and Wednesday, defeating Missouri State 5-4 before dropping a narrow one to Memphis, 7-6. Addie Graham extended her hitting streak to ten games this week, the first Bear to reach a double-figure streak this season. Graham has been on a tear to start her first season at Central Arkansas, batting a team-best .377 with 23 hits and seven doubles.
•    Omaha (14-4) heads into the tournament after winning three games at the Louisville Slugger Invitational in Long Beach, California, last weekend against Pitt, Cal Poly and Utah Tech. The Mavericks offense has been impressive, with a .301 team batting average and 110 runs scored in 18 games, however they have also got it done in the circle thanks to former Southern Illinois standout and 2024 MVC Pitcher of the Year Maddia Groff, who has a 1.35 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 52.0 innings, and has four total shutouts. 

NEWS & NOTES
•    The Redbirds went 1-4 last weekend, splitting time in Tennessee between Murfreesboro and Nashville. ISU's win came against Ball State on Friday, as Hannah Meeks tossed a complete-game, 4-hit shutout as the Redbirds picked up a 3-0 win thanks to a three-run fifth inning.
•    Adisyn Hopkins was on fire in Tennessee, hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three runs scored and an RBI, and she now leads the team with a .310 batting average.
•    In the circle, Hannah Meshnick (3-5) leads the team with a 2.71 ERA and 20 strikeouts, allowing just a .257 batting average while tossing five complete games for the Birds. 
•    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.