McLean County Times

The Illinois State softball team is set to conclude their home Missouri Valley Conference series this weekend against the UNI Panthers. The series, taking place at Marian Kneer Stadium, includes games on Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and a final match on Sunday at noon.

Links for live stats on StatBroadcast and streaming on ESPN+ can be found on GoRedbirds.com. A Senior Day ceremony will take place following the Sunday game.

The Redbirds and Panthers will meet for the 122nd time with Illinois State holding a 79-41-1 lead in their all-time series. Last year, the Panthers swept the series against Illinois State.

UNI, with a record of 26-16 and 14-7 in the MVC, is aiming to rebound from a recent loss to Iowa State. Individual performances were noted by Skylar Benesh and Addison McElrath. Previously, the Panthers had a strong showing against Southern Illinois, with standout performances from Kate Lappe and Anna Wischnowski, both earning MVC weekly honors.

UNI leads the MVC in several categories, including home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. They also rank nationally in walks and home runs per game.

Illinois State, sporting a record of 19-26 and 12-9 in the MVC, recently swept Bradley and Missouri State in their series. Julia Larson was highlighted for her performances, while Hannah Meshnick and Paige McLeod secured victories in pitching.

The Redbirds boast a strong defense, ranking second in fielding percentage and tied for second in team ERA within the MVC. Seniors Abby Knight and Delainey Bryant, alongside Julia Larson, have contributed significantly to the team's recent successes.

Fans can keep up with the team’s updates through various social media platforms, as well as the GoRedbirds.com website and app.