NORMAL — For nearly two weeks, the weather was winning and kept Illinois State's softball team from playing. No wonder Redbird coach Melinda Fischer said it "absolutely" felt like the start of a new season Saturday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Junior Kaili Chval hopes it's the start of something big for the Redbirds in the Missouri Valley Conference, too.
Chval delivered her first career home run at the most opportune time. Her three-run shot over the left-field fence with one out in the bottom of the seventh lifted ISU to a dramatic 5-3 walk-off victory against Indiana State.