McLean County Times

Illinois State's softball team is set for their last non-conference game of the season against Iowa. The Redbirds will travel to Iowa City for the matchup scheduled on Tuesday at Bob Pearl Field. The game begins at 4pm CT and will be streamed live on Big Ten+. Live statistics will be accessible through StatBroadcast, with links available on GoRedbirds.com.

The Hawkeyes currently lead the all-time series with a 32-20 edge over the Redbirds. The two teams last competed in 2012, where Illinois State claimed a 7-3 victory in the Littlewood Classic in Arizona. Jordan Birch, a senior for the Redbirds then, achieved a career-high of 14 strikeouts in that game.

Entering Tuesday's game, Illinois State has faced three Big Ten teams this season, resulting in losses to Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Illinois State (12-25, 6-7 MVC) recently secured a pair of wins last week, including a victory against Bradley and a decisive win against Drake, where they scored 15 runs on 18 hits.

The Hawkeyes (22-14, 4-6 Big Ten) come into the encounter following a series loss to Nebraska, taking only the final game with a 5-2 win. As a team, they have a .282 batting average, with standout players like Jena Young, who holds a .387 batting average, and Soo-Jin Berry, the top run producer.

Illinois State has showcased strong defense with a .963 fielding percentage, and currently stands second in the Valley for fewest errors and first in double plays. Offensively, the team is led by Abby Knight with a .299 batting average and Addison Masching with 12 RBIs. In pitching, Hannah Meshnick leads with a 3.07 ERA, having secured six wins and a total of 49 strikeouts this season.

For fans interested in updates, Illinois State Softball can be followed on their social media platforms. GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App offer additional resources for fans.