Thursday, April 17
Normal, Ill.
5:00 p.m.
Missouri State University
at
Illinois State
Softball Caps Seven-Game Road Swing at Illinois State
April 16, 2025 | Softball
| Missouri State Bears (13-28, 11-7 MVC) at Illinois State Redbirds (16-25, 9-7 MVC) | |
| Dates | Thursday-Saturday | April 17-19 |
| Location & Site | Marian Kneer Stadium | Normal, Ill. |
| Game 1 | Thursday, 5:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats |
| Game 2 | Friday, 5:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats |
| Game 3 | Saturday, 2:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats |
| Missouri State | Game Notes (PDF) | Softball Home Page | Media Guide |
| Illinois State | Softball Home Page |
| Bears Mobile App | App Store (Apple Devices) | Google Play Store (Android Devices) |
| Up Next | Tuesday, April 22 vs. Tulsa | 5:00 p.m. | Springfield, Mo. |
The Starting Lineup
- Missouri State softball closes out its seven-game road stretch with a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Illinois State (April 17-19). Â Missouri State trails the all-time series against Illinois State, 51-74, which includes a 23-31 record on the road in Normal. The Bears have won the last five series against the Redbirds.Â
- The Bears are finally set to close a 15-game span running from March 27-April 19 that features 14 road games. As the schedule stands currently, MoState is set to finish the regular season with 17 of its last 22 games played on the road.Â
- Missouri State currently sits in fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season standings with an 11-7 league record. This weekend's series at Illinois State is crucial, as the Redbirds currently sit right behind MoState in fifth place with a 9-7 record in league play. In MVC games this season, MoState ranks first in fielding percentage (.971), third in team ERA (2.53) and fifth in team batting average (.296).Â
- In league action, the catching tandem of Sidney McLaughlin (Jr., Stillwater, Okla.) and Alexis Perales (So., Grapevine, Texas) has combined to throw out six baserunners in 18 stolen base attempts. The two are also the top hitters for the Bears against league foes with batting averages of .385 and .381, respectively.Â
- In the circle, Makenzi Swick (Jr., Stillwater, Okla.) owns a team-leading 1.49 ERA and 24 strikeouts in league action.
- McKenzie Vaughan (Sr., Bella Vista, Ark.) knocked her 28th career home run in the series finale at Indiana State last weekend to move into second place in program history in career homers. She trails only her former teammate Olivia Krehbiel, who broke the record last season with 31 career home runs. Vaughan also leads the team this season with 33 RBI and nine home runs.
- The Bears are 8-0 this season when holding opponents to two runs or less and are 9-1 when out-hitting opponents. MoState has had 14 games decided by two runs or less this season, and owns a 4-10 record in those games.Â
- Kasey Griffith is in her first season at the helm of the Bears program. She stepped into the lead role following the retirement of longtime head coach Holly Hesse. Griffith was named the seventh head coach in the history of the program on June 5, 2024, and this marks her first stint as a head coach. The Dallas Center, Iowa, native has been on the MoState staff for the last two seasons, including serving as associate head coach in 2024.
- The 2025 MoState roster includes 12 returners, nine newcomers (seven freshmen, two transfers) and features 12 underclassmen. From last year's squad, the Bears had eight departures which included seven seniors. Three of MoState's freshmen have started at least 35 games this season (Baber, Romine, Studer).
   Missouri State trails the all-time series against Illinois State, 51-74, which includes a 23-31 record on the road in Normal. The Bears have won the last five series against the Redbirds.Â
   MoState and Illinois State faced off in Springfield last season with the teams splitting the first two games, before the Bears emerged victorious in the rubber match. Missouri State run-ruled the Redbirds in game one 10-0 in five innings, before Illiois State answered with a 7-2 win to tie the series. In the series finale, the Bears used a four-run fourth inning to propel them to a series win with a 7-4 victory.
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/1B
/ SoftballMonday, June 22
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
