BOCA RATON, Fla. – A two-out home run in the bottom of the seventh by Mack Leonard helped Illinois State (4-3) walk it off against FIU (5-8) on Friday afternoon. Additionally, the junior right-handed pitcher collected her second win of the season in the circle.
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Leonard worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the opening frame, before an RBI double over the center fielder's head by Emme Olson sent Leonard charging across home plate to help the Redbirds take an early 1-0 lead.
- FIU jumped on the board in the fourth inning, scoring on an ISU error, before extending its lead in the fifth, sitting in front, 2-1.
- A lead-off single from Kaili Chval ignited Illinois State's offense in the home half of the sixth, before Dayna Kennedy sent a triple past the left fielder to push Chval home and level the score at two-all.
- A strikeout delivered by Leonard closed the top of the seventh, before a two-out homer by the junior walked it off for the Redbirds in the final frame.
ON DECK
Illinois State will play a doubleheader on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. CT versus Pitt and FIU, before wrapping up the FAU Parents' Weekend tournament on Sunday with a pair of games against Coastal Carolina and the tournament host Owls.
To view ISU's full schedule, visit GoRedbirds.com. Game times, dates, opponents and locations are subject to change.
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.
