McLean County Times

NORMAL, Ill. – The regular softball season series between Illinois State and Bradley will reach its conclusion on Tuesday. The teams will play their third game in a mid-week series at Marian Kneer Stadium, starting at 5 p.m. This match marks the 109th meeting between the two teams, with Illinois State holding a significant advantage in the historical rivalry, leading 81-27. In the softball I-74 rivalry, the Redbirds have a substantial lead of 54 wins. They claimed victory in all meetings with the Braves in the previous year and have won the two games played in Peoria this year with scores of 6-3 and 1-0.

Bradley, with a record of 19-27 overall and 8-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), has struggled recently, losing six out of their last seven games. However, they ended their recent MVC series against Indiana State with a 3-0 shutout win at OSF Healthcare Field. A complete-game shutout by pitcher Sydney Kennedy ended the Braves' losing streak, with contributions also coming from Olivia Turner, Morgan Schlosser, and Ashley Breeding on offense. Freshman Olivia Turner has established herself with key at-bats over the series.

Illinois State (18-26, 11-8 MVC) is in good form, having won seven of their last eight games and their last two MVC series. The Redbirds are seeking another series sweep following a comprehensive win against Valparaiso. The team took two of three games against Missouri State, securing crucial wins to climb the league standings, currently positioned fourth. Key performances included complete-game victories by pitchers Hannah Meshnick and Paige McLeod, and a three-run home run by Bella Atkinson. Defensively, Illinois State boasts a .965 fielding percentage, ranking second overall in the league. The Redbirds rank third in team ERA at 3.34 in the MVC.

Senior players like Abby Knight and Delainey Bryant continue to make significant contributions, leading in batting averages and home runs. Outfielder Julia Larson and other seniors like Knight and Bryant carry hitting streaks into the game, maintaining strong performances.

Fans can follow updates on Illinois State Softball through social media platforms and utilize GoRedbirds.com for ticketing and more.