Illinois St. Softball, Baseball Press Conference Jan. 29

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Published on January 23 2020 1:32 pm
Last Updated on January 23 2020 1:32 pm
Written by Millie Lange

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer and Redbird head baseball coach Steve Holm will host a joint preseason press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 29) afternoon in the media room at Redbird Arena. Fischer’s press conference will begin at 3 p.m. with Holm’s availability following at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Fischer will be joined by returning All-Missouri Valley Conference selections – Alyssa Wiebel and Morgan Day. The veteran head coach enters the 2020 season with 1,092 career victories to sit at No. 19 all-time in NCAA Division I in the category and 11th among active head coaches. The Redbirds welcome back six starters, including middle infielders Emme Olson and Taylor Vanderpool. Wiebel is the only starter returning in the outfield, while Day brings back the most experience in the pitcher’s circle. ISU has set up another challenging slate in 2020, which includes contests against 11 NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago.

Joining Holm on Wednesday will be Colton Johnson and Joe Butler. The Redbirds return five position starters – including Butler, who was an all-conference pick in 2019 – from last year's MVC Regular-Season Championship and NCAA Tournament team that finished 36-26. Despite losing the majority of their 2019 starting rotation in the MLB Draft, ISU also brings back multiple key pitchers from last season, including senior southpaw Johnson. In his second year at the helm, Holm pieced together a 2020 slate that features contests against nine 2019 NCAA Tournament participants and 18 home games at Duffy Bass Field.

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