ISU Redbirds Begin Softball Season This Week

The Illinois State softball team will be tested early, as they open the 2019 season at USF’s Opening Weekend Invitational in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 7-10. The Redbirds are set to face a trio of preseason Top-25 ranked opponents during the five-game stretch.

For the third-straight year, Illinois State will kick off its slate against tournament host USF, who is currently receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25 poll, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT. The Redbirds will resume action with a pair of contests on Friday against NC State and No. 5 Florida at 11:15 a.m. CT and 3:45 p.m. CT, respectively.

Illinois State’s tough test continues Saturday with a matchup against No. 7/6 Michigan at 4:45 p.m. CT, with the weekend finale set for 8 a.m. CT on Sunday versus No. 19/14 Michigan.

The Redbirds were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference in a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches, while sophomore Andrea Coursey was named to the preseason all-conference squad. Illinois State returns five starters in 2019, including a trio of seniors in Shannon Felde, Allison Spence and Riley Hale, who combined for over a third of the Redbirds’ runs batted in last season.

The Redbirds' roster include juniors Anni and Kadi Borries of Teutopolis.

For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).