NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (23-6, 9-2 MVC) used a seventh-inning rally to come within one of Southern Illinois (29-9, 11-6 MVC), but the Salukis held on for a 3-2 win to take the final game of the three-game series.
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- The Salukis jumped on the board in the opening frame, holding a 1-0 lead early.
- Mack Leonard settled into the circle in the second inning, recording a pair of strikeouts and a ground out, before Jayden Standish bombed her fourth home run of the season over the right field wall to knot the score.
- A two-out RBI single in the third and sixth innings pushed SIU out in front, 3-1.
- The Salukis loaded the bases with a trio of walk in the top of the seventh, but the Redbirds were able to escape with no damage.
- ISU's seventh-inning rally began with a lead-off walk drawn by Reili Gardner and a single from Leonard to put two on for the Redbirds. An RBI single by Kaili Chval and a Saluki error brought Illinois State within one, while Andrea Coursey worked through a 12-pitch at-bat to make it on and load the bases for the Redbirds. The Salukis escaped the jam to hold on for the 3-2 win.
ON DECK
Illinois State is set to host I-74 rival Bradley for a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. Attendance is currently limited to player pass list only and tickets are not available to the general public.
To view ISU's full schedule and find ways to follow the Redbirds, 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.
