Illinois State University Softball Team Schedule Released

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Published on November 30 2017 7:13 am
Last Updated on November 30 2017 7:13 am
Written by Millie Lange

NORMAL, Ill. – Five spring tournaments and 16 home games highlight the Redbirds’ 2017 softball schedule, announced by head coach Melinda Fischer.
 
The Redbirds, who wrapped up their 2017 season at the National Invitational Softball Championship in Lynchburg, Virginia, will begin their season with to five pre-conference tournaments away from home: USF, Arizona State, Florida, LSU and Oklahoma. The nonconference slate features 12 NCAA Tournament teams from 2017, including super regional winner LSU, Women’s College World Series runner-up Florida and back-to-back national champion Oklahoma.
 
“It’s another great schedule for Redbird softball,” Fischer said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to go back to Florida to reconvene with that tournament. This schedule provides us with a great opportunity to gauge ourselves against the best of the best. When you play the defending national champion twice, it’s a great opportunity for us to see what the top level programs are doing. If we want to be the best and reach our goals in the Valley, this is the kind of schedule that will certainly prepare us for it.”

Area members of the Redbirds team are Teutopolis graduates Kadi and Anni Borries.
 
Illinois State begins its spring slate at USF on Feb. 8, followed by four tournament weekends before MVC play begins March 16 at Missouri State. The team will also play two NCAA Tournament teams after beginning conference play: Southern Illinois, the reigning MVC Tournament champion, and DePaul, the 2017 BIG EAST Tournament champion.
 
The 2017 MVC champion Redbirds open their home schedule with MVC foe Indiana State March 30-31 and NCAA Tournament team Illinois April 4 for a midweek matchup. After trips to Loyola Chicago (April 7-8) and DePaul (April 9), Illinois State returns to Marian Kneer Stadium to host Evansville April 14-15.
 
The Redbirds will play a home-and-home with Bradley in Peoria, April 18, and in Normal. April 24. Illinois State wraps up the 2018 season at home against Valley newcomer Valparaiso May 5-6. The 2018 MVC Softball Championship will be hosted by Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, May 10-12.