TEMPE, Ariz. – It was an offensive war at the plate between Illinois State (0-9) and Utah State (3-6) Saturday night, as the Aggies outlasted the Redbirds for a 13-8 win. Â
BIRD BITS
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- The Redbirds wasted no time getting on the board, scratching a trio of runs across the plate in the top of the first on a single by Andrea Coursey and a sacrifice fly to right field by Brittni LaFountaine. Illinois State's three-run first inning marks the most runs scored in the opening frame by the Redbirds this season.
- Utah State responded in the bottom of the first and second, scoring seven runs on seven hits to jump out to a 7-3 lead.
- Heading into the Littlewood Classic, the Redbirds had given up 18 runs to their opponents in the first inning. The Aggies' lone run scored in the bottom of the first inning marked the first run given up in the opening frame by ISU this weekend.
- In the top of the third, Illinois State struck again with a single through the left side by Alyssa Wiebel, bringing Coursey home from second base.
- Both teams chalked up a big offensive fourth inning, as a three-run moon shot over the center field wall by Emme Olson leveled the score at seven-all. The Aggies responded, scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to regain their lead.
- Utah State scratched two more runs across in the bottom of the fifth, holding a 13-7 lead going into the sixth inning.
- Olson launched her second home run of the game – and third of her rookie season – over the center field wall in nearly the same spot to cut into the Aggies' lead, but Utah State held on for the victory.
- With her pair of long balls, Olson became the first Redbird since Jordan de los Reyes (2014-17) to hit two home runs in a single game.
- Shannon Felde is riding a four-game hitting streak heading into the final game of the Littlewood Classic, leading the team with eight hits.
ON DECK
Illinois State will wrap up the Littlewood Classic tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. CT against San Diego.
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