Jamie Bagnalls double to left field in the first inning drove home two runs for Illinois State as the Redbirds went on to blank Drake 3-0, sweeping the three-game series, in Missouri Valley Conference softball action Sunday.
ISUs record is now 24-12, 13-1 in the Valley while Drake fell to 14-23, 6-12.
After Shae Wesley reached base on an error by the Drake first basemen in the first play of the game and Becky McMurtry singled a batter later, Bagnall stepped up with the monster hit, bringing home two and giving ISU the lead after the half inning.
McMurtry secured ISUs lead and win after crossing the plate in the fifth on a wild pitch by Bulldog pitcherAllison Stewart. The Redbirds ended the game with four hits while Drake had three hits and two errors.
Nicole Kurth pitched the complete game for ISU, sitting down 12 Bulldogs en route to her 16th win of the year. In the three games this weekend, the senior had 31 strikeouts, two shutouts and allowed one run.
Bagnall went 2-of-4 on the day with two RBI while McMurtry went 2-of-4 with two runs.
The Redbirds will play Northern Illinois this Wednesday at the Redbird Softball Complex. The non-conference doubleheader starts at 4 p.m.
