THIS WEEK
The second tournament of the season will take place in California, as the Redbirds travel to compete at the Silicon Valley Invitational hosted by Santa Clara and San Jose State from Feb. 12-15. The Redbirds will open the tournament on Thursday at 7 p.m. against 2025 NCAA Tournament qualifier Santa Clara. ISU will then play 2025 Big West Champion and NCAA qualifier UC-Santa Barbara at 2 p.m., followed by San Jose State at 7 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's slate includes a contest against Utah 2 p.m. and another matchup with host San Jose State, who the Redbirds last played in 2014 and won, 11-3. The tournament will wrap up on Sunday with a noon contest against California, who went 35-18 in the regular season last year to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2-0 ON OPENING DAY
The Redbirds started the 2026 season on a high note at the USF-Rawlings Invitational. ISU erupted offensively in a 10–1 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman before knocking off host South Florida, 5–1, in game two to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012.
CALHOUN'S COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Freshman Morgan Calhoun made her Redbird debut at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, starting all five games at first base.
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In the season-opener versus Bethune-Cookman, Calhoun went 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs and a run scored.
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She followed that performance up with a 2-for-3 outing and an RBI against South Florida.
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The rookie leads the team with a .462 BA and .533 OBP% and is tied for first with six hits through the first five contests.
BIG TIME BELLA
Bella Atkinson started her senior season off right in Tampa, Florida.
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Atkinson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored against Bethune-Cookman.
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She continued her strong day at the plate against South Florida, going 2-for-4 and blasting a two-run home run -- the third of her NCAA career -- to extend the Redbird advantage over the Bulls.
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She leads the Redbirds with seven RBIs and 10 total bases and is tied for first with six hits.
MESHNICK MAKES HER 100TH APPEARANCE
Senior Hannah Meshnick played in her 100th career game when she started on the mound against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 5.
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She allowed just one run while striking out five Wildcats over five innings.
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Meshnick also drove in ISU's first two runs against BCU with her first career home run and added a double to lead the Redbirds to a 10-1 victory.
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She currently leads the team with a 3.50 ERA and a .889 SLG%.
McLEOD TOSSES COMPLETE GAME
Sophomore Paige McLeod made her first start of the season against South Florida and tossed her 15th career complete game.
MVC PRESEASON HONORS
Illinois State softball was selected fourth in the annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Senior pitcher Hannah Meshnick also earned preseason All-MVC honorable mention recognition.
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Meshnick made 38 appearances on the mound and started 25 games in 2025, ending with a 9-3 record in Valley play.
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She posted a 3.34 ERA with a team-best 91 strikeouts across 176 innings pitched.
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The senior pitched 10 complete games, including a seven-inning outing against Valparaiso on April 13, when she fanned eight batters and allowed just one run on two hits.
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Meshnick was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 18, 2025, after not allowing an earned run in 14.1 innings pitched at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge.
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