JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Illinois State (1-0) senior pitcher Morgan Day picked up right where she left off in the circle, delivering 12 strikeouts in a complete game effort, as the Redbirds shut out North Florida (0-1), 4-0, to kick off their 2021 campaign on Thursday. Day's shutout win of the Ospreys marks the 12th of her career, as the right-hander gave up just one hit while allowing a trio of walks.
BIRD BITS
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Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Kaili Chval registered the Redbirds' first hit of the season, knocking a one-out double to right center field in the opening frame. A fielding error by UNF's third baseman helped ISU scratch a run on the board, as Emme Olson charged across home plate to score the Redbirds' first run of the season in the top of the first.
- Mack Leonard drew a one-out walk in the top of the fourth to load the bases and force the Ospreys to make a pitching change. In the next at-bat, Chval was dinged and walked in freshman Madi Bylak. A sac fly to left field by Olson pushed newcomer Reili Gardner home to give ISU a 3-0 advantage midway through the game.
- Pinch hitter Rebecca Moffett was drilled by the first pitch she saw in the top of the sixth, before Gardner drew a walk to force UNF to make its second pitching change of the game. A wild pitch and a single to right field by Leonard helped the Redbirds take a 4-0 lead.
- Day opened the sixth inning by fanning back-to-back batters, making it the senior's 10th double-digit strikeout performance of her career, before sealing the shutout win on a ground out back to the circle.
ON DECK
With anticipated inclement weather moving into the area, tomorrow's games against Clemson and North Florida have each been moved up two hours. First pitch against the Tigers is now set for 9 a.m. CT, before the Redbirds face the Ospreys for the second time at 2 p.m. CT.
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