Illinois State Softball is Back, First Stop, Tampa Florida The Home of the University of South Florida Bulls

Image courtesy of Redbird Athletics

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Softball returns to the diamond this weekend, as they travel to Tampa, FL to participate in the University of South Florida Tournament.

It will be an action-packed weekend for the Redbirds, with names like The University of Michigan, The University of Florida, and Kansas highlighting an impressive pool for the opening tournament of the 2026 season.

ISU comes into this weekend ranked fourth in the pre-season MVC polls, picked to finish exactly where they did last season. After a disappointing out of conference schedule the Birds were able to make some ground late in their MVC stretch and finish with a respectable 16-11 record in conference.

The Birds are led by Senior right hander Hannah Meshnick earning All MVC preseason honors, after being ISU’s most valuable pitcher in 2025. Aside from Meshnick, her fellow rotation mate Paige McLeod and some other core members returning from 2025, this is a new look Redbird team, who will look to fill the void left by the likes of Delainey Bryant and Addison Hopkins, the first a multi time All MVC First Teamer, and team captain.

This is the second consecutive year that ISU has kicked off the season in Tampa, losing all but their first game of the tournament, being outscored 21-6 in the four losses. It will not be any easier for Illinois State this year with the Universities of Michigan and Florida both returning this year, the teams that handed ISU their worst defeats of last season’s tournament.

The tournament will take place starting February 5^th and running until the 7^th which means five games in three days for this round robin affair.

To keep up with Illinois State Softball as they chase down the MVC title this season, visit wznd.com.