TEMPE, Ariz. – On the last day of the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Illinois State (1-8) played Portland State (6-4) for the first time in program history and earned a decisive 6-2 victory over the Vikings to give the Redbirds' their first win of the 2022 season.
The Redbird rookies played a huge role in the win over the Vikings as true freshmen Abby Knight, Delainey Bryant and Addison Masching, combined for two home runs, five RBI, and four runs scored.
BIRD BITS
Offensive Highlights:
- Abby Knight: 1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, SF, BB
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, RÂ
- Reili Gardner: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R
- Addison Masching: 1-for-3, 3B, R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Amanda Fox: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, HP
- Hannah Ross: 2.0 IP, BB, SO
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first without surrendering a run, the 'Birds responded with a single from Reili Gardner to put a runner on. With two outs in the inning, designated player, Abby Knight, hit her second career home run that cleared the wall in right center field to give Illinois State an early 2-0 lead over Portland State.
- Addison Masching collected her first hit of the day to start off the bottom of the third. She tripled to right field, forcing a pitching change by the Vikings. Gardner then collected her second single in as many at-bats to score Masching from third. Emme Olson followed up with a single, Gardner using her speed to advance to third. A deep fly ball from Knight in the next at-bat scored Gardner, giving the Redbirds a 4-0 lead after three innings.Â
- In the bottom of the fifth, Knight drew a two-out walk to bring freshman Delainey Bryant to the plate. Bryant then blasted her first career home run to left field, scoring Knight, and continuing to add to the Redbird lead, now up to 6-0 heading to the sixth.
- Portland State started the sixth with a bang as a solo shot to left center put them on the board, cutting the lead to five. Hannah Ross was called into the circle to pitch for Illinois State and only allowed one more run to score before the inning was over, keeping the Redbird lead at 6-2.
- Ross sealed the deal for the Redbirds as she got the final out on a swing and miss, giving Illinois State its first win of the season.
ON DECK
Illinois State heads to Bowling Green, Ky. to participate in the Hilltopper Spring Fling (Feb. 25-27) hosted by Western Kentucky. The action starts on Feb. 25 against the Ohio Bobcats (1-4), followed by contests against the Dayton Flyers (1-4) and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (7-1).Â
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