The Illinois State softball team will host the Southern Illinois Salukis for a three-game series at Marian Kneer Stadium, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 19 and concluding with a Saturday game. The Redbirds currently hold a narrow lead in the all-time series against the Salukis, but Southern Illinois has won the last six meetings and sits atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
This matchup is significant as both teams are near the top of their conference, with Southern Illinois undefeated in league play at 5-0 and Illinois State close behind at 5-1. Game three of the series will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Last weekend, Illinois State swept Drake in three games, scoring a total of 26 runs on 32 hits and hitting ten home runs across the series. The Redbirds’ offense was highlighted by back-to-back-to-back home runs in one inning and five home runs in a single game—feats not accomplished since 2015 and 2007 respectively. Freshman Taylor Liebelt had an outstanding performance, going four-for-four in her only start and recording two home runs over the weekend. This marked only the sixth four-hit day for a Redbird at Marian Kneer Stadium.
First-year assistant coach Alexis Rudd will face her alma mater this weekend; she graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2025 after playing as both designated player and pitcher for three championship teams. Additionally, junior Ella Boyer and freshman Ava Boyer are among just seventeen sets of sisters who are teammates in Division I softball, according to an SID survey. They are also unique within their conference as siblings who have each started more than twenty games this season.
According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund to support competitiveness and recruitment efforts. The university’s athletic program is linked to Illinois State University and competes in NCAA Division I events across various regions according to its official site. Student-athletes utilize resources such as the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for preparation according to official information. Fans can find news, schedules, rosters, and other resources through the team’s online platform as reported by its website.
The upcoming series could impact conference standings as both teams look to maintain strong starts to their seasons.
