PEORIA, Ill. ? This weekend's three-game Missouri Valley Conference softball series between Bradley and Illinois State has been shortened to a doubleheader on Monday. The three-game series was scheduled to open Friday afternoon with a single game at 4 p.m., but cold weather in the Central Illinois area forced the postponement of this weekend's games.

Saturday's doubleheader has also been put on hold and the two teams will now play a 3 p.m. doubleheader Monday, April 9 at the Redbird Softball Complex.

The Braves (19-10 overall, 4-4 MVC) have won five straight games heading into the series and five of their last six overall. The preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite and defending regular-season champion, Illinois State is tied for 19th in the latest ESPN.com/USA Today Top 25 poll and owns a 30-9 overall record and 8-3 MVC mark heading into the weekend.

Bradley will play Illinois in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 11 in Champaign, following Monday's twinbill against the Redbirds.