Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
NORMAL, Ill. - After trailing 2-1 in the middle of the fifth, Illinois State drove in six runs over the final two innings to successfully complete the three-game sweep over Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State Sunday afternoon with a 7-2 win at Marian Kneer Stadium in Normal, Ill. ISU improved its record to 19-11 and 6-1 in the Valley, while Missouri State fell to 13-14 and 4-4 in MVC play.
Elizabeth Kay drove in three runs on two hits, while Kara Nelson pushed across two Redbird runs on three hits and scored a run. Lauren Kellar and Jhavon Hamilton both scored two runs in the Redbird victory.
Taylor Baxter grabbed the win in the circle and improved her record to 4-3, as the freshman pitcher won her first MVC game, after striking out two and allowing two hits in four innings.
Illinois State pushed a run across in the first inning to get ahead of Missouri State early in the contest. Kellar struck out swinging, but reached first after a passed ball by Missouri State catcher Caitlin Chapin. Kellar moved into scoring position after stealing second and crossed home plate on a single to center by Kay.
The Redbird lead did not last long, as the Bears' Ashley Knehans hit a two-run shot over the left field wall to give MSU a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second.
After three-scoreless innings, the ISU bats got hot again in the fifth. With no outs in the bottom of the fifth, Hamilton and Nelson hit back-to-back singles. A MSU fielding error allowed Hamilton to score, tying the game at 2-2. Then, a single by Kay through the left side drove in Nelson and Kellar to give ISU a two-run lead, 4-2, heading into the sixth.
ISU maintained its offensive momentum in the sixth, as Hamilton singled up the middle to drive in Sara Bradley from second, while Nelson singled through the right side to score Jess Roche and Hamilton, increasing ISU's lead to five runs through six.
Missouri State put runners on the corners in the top of the seventh, but was not able to push anymore runs across, as Illinois State won 7-2.
The Redbirds will host Valley rival Bradley Tuesday, April 5, at Marian Kneer Stadium. The first pitch of the makeup game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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