Softball Set To Travel To Illinois State For Midweek Matchup

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team travels to Normal, Illinois, for a midweek matchup against Illinois State on Tuesday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for noon CT.

The Hawkeyes enter Tuesday’s contest with a 14-8 overall record. Iowa opened Big Ten play this past weekend against Ohio State, dropping two of three games in the series. The Hawkeyes secured the middle game, run-ruling the Buckeyes, 9-1, in five innings.

Illinois State is 12-7 on the season and is coming off a 2-1 series win over Evansville. Both victories came in a Friday doubleheader.

Iowa leads the all-time series, 32-21. The teams last met April 8, 2025, when Illinois State earned a 2-1 victory in 10 innings.

As a team, the Redbirds are batting .285 with a 3.90 ERA. Freshman Morgan Calhoun leads the offense with 22 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with four home runs. The infielder is hitting .441 with a 1.265 OPS. In the circle, Paige McLeod owns a 2.46 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 62 2/3 innings pitched. Illinois State is led by head coach Tina Kramos, who is in her fourth season with the program.

Iowa is hitting .318 as a team with a 4.65 ERA in the circle. Freshman McKenzie Leitgen leads the Hawkeyes with six home runs — the most by an Iowa freshman since 2015 — and has added 20 RBIs. Tory Bennett is slashing .344/.400/.703 and leads the team with 19 runs scored. Junior Avery Sapp holds a 3.22 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched.

Tuesday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+. Live updates will also be available via Live Stats and on X at @IowaSoftball.