McLean County Times

Illinois State University's softball team is set to face Missouri State in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship. The Redbirds, who finished fourth in the regular season standings, received a first-round bye and will compete against the Bears on Thursday at Ron Buel Field in Des Moines, Iowa.

Missouri State advanced to this stage after defeating UIC with a 7-3 victory. Freshmen Riley Baber, Aubrey Johansen, Lauren Rowland, and Halle Studer contributed significantly to the win by driving in six of the team's seven runs. McKenzie Vaughan secured the win as a relief pitcher, maintaining a scoreless performance over four innings.

The all-time series between Illinois State and Missouri State favors the Redbirds with a record of 72-49. Earlier this season, Illinois State won two out of three games against Missouri State at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Both teams have players recognized for their performances this season. Missouri State's McKenzie Vaughan was named to the All-MVC First Team, while Alexis Perales and Emily Gerardy received Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors respectively. Illinois State's Abby Knight and Delainey Bryant were selected for the All-MVC First Team, with Hannah Meshnick on the Second Team and Julia Larson on the All-Defensive Team.

Illinois State secured their No. 4 seed position following an 8-5 victory over Murray State in an 11-inning game that concluded their regular season. Knight played a crucial role by driving in three runs during that match.

Fans can follow live stats via StatBroadcast or watch the game streamed live on ESPN+. For more updates on Illinois State Softball, followers are encouraged to check their social media channels or visit GoRedbirds.com.