Redbirds Split on Second Day of Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Illinois State softball team (9-8) responded after a 5-2 setback to Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, topping Austin Peay, 5-4, in the night cap.

BIRD BITS – GAME 1 AT WESTERN KENTUCKY – L, 5-2

Top Offensive Players:

• Mack Leonard: 2-for-4, 2B
• Brittni LaFountaine: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, HR

Pitching Breakdown:

• Morgan Day: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
• Amanda Fox: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS – GAME 1 AT WESTERN KENTUCKY – L, 5-2

• Western Kentucky took advantage of an ISU error in the bottom of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead.
• Brittni LaFountaine hit a two-run bomb over the left field wall in the top of the fourth to give the Redbirds a 2-1 edge.
• The Hilltoppers scratched four unearned runs across in the home half of the fifth, behind a trio of hits and another Redbird error to hold a 5-2 advantage before sealing the victory.

BIRD BITS – GAME 2 VS. AUSTIN PEAY – W, 5-4

Top Offensive Players:

• Mack Leonard: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B
• Dayna Kennedy: 2-for-4, R, 3B
• Spenser Strandgard: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB

Pitching Breakdown:

• Mack Leonard: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS – GAME 2 VS. AUSTIN PEAY – W, 5-4

• A one-out RBI double by Emme Olson in the bottom of the opening frame helped the Redbirds take an early 1-0 lead, before Mack Leonard and the ISU defense sat the Governors down in order in the second.
• Spenser Strandgard drew a walk in the bottom of the third to load the bases for ISU, before Anni Borries dropped a two-RBI single to centerfield to extend the Redbirds' lead. In the next at-bat, a wild pitch sent Strandgard charging across home plate to make it 4-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
• For the third-straight inning, ISU led off with an extra base hit, as Leonard doubled to left center field in the sixth and scored on an error by the Governors.
• Austin Peay rallied in the seventh, tacking on four runs to come within one of ISU, but Leonard struck out the final batter to give the Redbirds the 5-4 win.

ON DECK

Illinois State will close out the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday against Western Kentucky in the tournament championship game.

For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).

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