Redbirds Host Murray State in Home Series Finale

ON DECK

Illinois State softball hosts Murray State in its final home series of the season this weekend on Melinda Fischer Field at Marian Kneer Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+, with first pitch set for noon CT, while Sunday's series finale is slated for noon CT. The Redbirds lead the all-time series over the Racers, 7-2, and have won three of the last five matchups.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois State fell, 6-5, to DePaul on Tuesday in the Redbirds' final non-conference midweek contest of the season.

SENIOR DAY

Following Saturday's doubleheader against the Racers, Illinois State will honor its five seniors, who have exemplified what it means to be a Redbird on and off the field: student manager Kendall Kedziora, infielder Bella Atkinson, catcher Bailah Bognar, infielder and pitcher Hannah Meeks and pitcher Hannah Meshnick.

• Kedziora has served as a student manager for the Illinois State softball team since her freshman year in 2022 and runs a baking business called K Creations.

• Atkinson has played and started in all 41 games this season at third base and leads the Redbirds with a .406 batting average with 56 hits, 42 RBIs and 10 home runs.

• Bognar is a four-year member of the ISU softball program and has set career-highs in hits, walks and RBIs, this season, along with slugging her first career home run against Illinois on March 31st.

• Meeks, a four-year member of the Redbird Softball team, has played in all but two games this season, batting .311 while setting career-highs in hits, runs scored, and RBIs with 12 doubles and seven home runs

• Meshnick is a four-year member of the Redbird Softball team with over 100 career appearances, over 230 strikeouts and 24 complete games while also being the all-time saves leader in program history with 12.

IN THE VALLEY

With just two conference series remaining in the regular season, Illinois State aims to finish strong and earn one of the six spots in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hosted by Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill., from May 6-9.

• The Redbirds currently sit in third in the conference with a 14-8 record.

• The Redbirds hold a 6-6 mark against the top six teams in the conference, with just fifth-place Murray State left to play of the group.

• Illinois State leads the MVC with 78 doubles and 19 double plays turned, while ranking in the top three in scoring, fielding percentage and RBIs and home runs per game.

• Junior pitcher Paige McLeod boasts a 6-1 record against the top six teams in the Valley with two complete games and one shutout.

• Senior Bella Atkinson ranks fourth in the MVC with a .406 batting average and fifth with 42 RBIs.

LARSON FINDS A WAY ON

Julia Larson has caught fire at the plate over the last month and currently holds a 15-game hit streak and 22-game reached base streak.

• Larson is one of 13 players in the nation to have at least one hit in 15 consecutive games and one of 26 players to have reached base in 22 straight games.

• Since her hit streak started against UNI on March 27, Larson has batted .339 (19-for-56) with three doubles, five walks, 12 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

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.