McLean County Times

The Illinois State softball team is set to continue its non-conference tournament schedule at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Redbirds will play five games over three days from February 21 to 23. Hosted by UT Chattanooga, the event will see matches taking place at Frost Stadium and Warner Park's Fields 1 and 2.

The tournament schedule for Illinois State includes games against Southeast Missouri State, IU Indy, Indiana State, Chattanooga, and Lamar. Game times are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CT, with Sunday's game starting at 11 a.m. CT.

Illinois State's opponents come into the tournament with varying records. Southeast Missouri State stands at 2-2, led by Tatum Gerwitz's impressive .700 batting average. IU Indy has a record of 2-5 with standout performances from Kendall Calvert and Molly Kable. Indiana State has struggled with a 1-8 record but sees Sophie Esposito leading with a .250 batting average.

Chattanooga enters with a record of 3-7, featuring Olivia Lipari who boasts a .429 batting average and Peja Goold leading in strikeouts. Lamar holds a strong start to their season at 6-3, driven by Veronica Harrison's .435 batting average.

The Redbirds recently concluded their participation in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic with a shutout victory over North Dakota State. Junior Hannah Meshnick was notable for her performance on the mound, earning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors after not allowing an earned run in Mexico.

Illinois State's roster includes four players selected for the All-MVC preseason team: seniors Delainey Bryant and Bella Wilkerson alongside sophomores Adisyn Hopkins and Paige McLeod. In the MVC preseason poll, Illinois State was picked to finish fourth.

For ongoing updates about Illinois State Softball, fans can follow their social media accounts or visit GoRedbirds.com.