NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (12-23, 6-2 MVC) scored a pair of runs in three different innings and fought off the UNI Panther (17-14, 8-3 MVC) comeback in the top of the seventh to secure its sixth Missouri Valley Conference win of the season on Sunday.
BIRD BITS VS. UNI (W, 6-5)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. UNI (W, 6-5)
- Shannon Felde and Emme Olson set the tone for ISU to start the game, drawing back-to-back walks to lead-off the home half of the inning. A two-RBI single up the middle by Allison Spence helped the Redbirds to an early 2-0 lead in the first.
- UNI responded in the top of the third, walking in a run, before Riley Hale slammed into the right field wall to leave the bases loaded for the Panthers.
- In the bottom of the third, Andrea Coursey launches a two-run shot over the left field wall to push the Redbirds to a 4-1 advantage.
- A lead-off home run by UNI helped the Panthers cut into ISU's lead, but the Redbirds pushed two more runs across in the home half of the inning to sit at a 6-2 lead going into the fifth.
- UNI pushed two across in the top of the fifth to sit at a 6-4 deficit on the Panthers' second home run of the game, before another home run brought the Panthers within one in the top of the seventh.
- The Redbirds were able to escape the frame and fight off UNI's comeback to close the series with a win.
ON DECK
Illinois State will continue its home stand on Wednesday when I-74 rival Bradley travels to Normal for the team's annual Pack the Park night. First pitch of the Redbirds' doubleheader versus the Braves is set for 3 p.m. For more information on the event, please visit GoRedbirds.com.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
