ON DECK
The Illinois State softball team returns home this weekend to host the Southern Illinois Salukis for a three-game series at Marian Kneer Stadium. Friday's doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. CT, with the series finale set for Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. Illinois State holds a narrow 79–77 lead in the all-time series, though Southern Illinois has won the last six meetings. The Salukis currently sit atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings at 5–0, while the Redbirds are close behind in third at 5–1. Game three of the series will be streamed on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois State swept Drake in a three-game series last weekend. On Friday, the Redbirds won 8-0 in six innings and 8-5 in the nightcap before closing the series on Saturday with an 11-3 win in six innings.
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Across the three games, the Redbird offense slugged 10 long balls and scored 26 runs on 32 hits.
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Illinois State is now 3-1 in MVC home openers and 9-3 in MVC home opening series under Coach Kramos.
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The Redbirds' 5-1 start in conference play is the best since 2023.
SENT 10 OVER
The Redbirds smashed 10 home runs during their three-game series sweep of Drake last weekend. Illinois State hit two home runs in game one, three in game two and five in game three, including back-to-back-to-back shots in the sixth inning.
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The last time Illinois State hit five home runs in a game was against North Texas on Feb. 13, 2015.
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The last time the Redbirds hit three-straight bombs was against Drake on April 14, 2007.
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Morgan Calhoun, Taylor Liebelt and Tatum Wolford each hit two dingers on the weekend, while freshmen Ava Boyer and Paige Rummans slugged the first homers of their careers against the Bulldogs.
ALL YOU CAN HIT
In Taylor Liebelt's lone start last weekend, the freshman went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. Overall, she went 5-for-5 with two bombs, one walk, five RBIs, and five runs scored for a 2.200 slugging percentage.
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This is the first four-hit game for a Redbird this season.
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Liebelt's performance marked the sixth four-hit day for a Redbird at Marian Kneer Stadium in program history, with the last coming from Emme Olson against Valparaiso in 2022.
RUDD REUNION
First-year assistant coach Alexis Rudd will reunite with her alma mater this weekend when Southern Illinois makes the trip to Normal. Rudd graduated from SIU in 2025 and was a member of three MVC Championship teams while playing for the Salukis as a designated player and pitcher.
BOYER SISTERS
According to an SID survey, junior Ella Boyer and freshman Ava Boyer are one of 17 sets of sisters who are teammates in Division I softball.
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They are the only set of sisters who are teammates on an MVC squad.
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 Illinois State and Oklahoma State are the only teams featuring a pair of sisters who have each started at least 20 games this season.
