Redbirds Bounce Back to Split Twin Bill Action at Bradley

PEORIA, Ill. – Illinois State (19-21, 9-7 MVC) dropped the first game of the doubleheader, 4-3, to the Braves before the Redbirds bounced back to secure the victory over Bradley (21-19, 9-8 MVC) in game two, 6-1. 

BIRD BITS (Game 1)

Offensive Highlights:

• Emme Olson: 2-for-3, 3B, R
• Abby Knight: 3-for-3, 2B
• Jayden Standish: 1-for-2, HR, SF, R, 3 RBI

Pitching Breakdown:

• Hannah Ross: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 8 SO, 2 WP

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Delainey Bryant got things going for Illinois State with a leadoff single up the middle for the Redbirds. Emme Olson also collected a hit in the first to extend her reached base safely streak to 31 consecutive games. After putting two runners on in the first, Illinois State came up empty. 
• Bradley was on the board first as the Braves scored on a sac fly in the bottom of the third, going up 1-0. 
• The Redbirds earned the run back as Olson led off the top of the fourth with a triple down the right field line, her first triple of the season and second hit of the game. Jayden Standish then collected an RBI on a sac fly to center field and Olson scored, making the score even at 1-1. 
• The Braves regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an a single up the middle, but a double play ended the inning as Bryant caught a shallow pop up in center before throwing back to first to get the runner. 
• As the Braves led 2-1 heading into the sixth, Kaili Chval drew a leadoff walk to give the Redbirds a runner. Olson was finally retired for the first time today on a fly out to left field before Standish crushed her fourth home run of the season to left center field to put the 'Birds up 3-2. 
• Bradley tied it up in the bottom half of the sixth as the Braves hit a triple to right field and scored on a wild pitch. 
• With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh, Bradley doubled off the wall in right field to win 4-3 in walk off fashion in game one of the doubleheader.
• Hannah Ross' eight strikeouts was a new career high for the junior hurler. 

BIRD BITS (Game 2)

Offensive Highlights:

• Dayna Kennedy: 2-for-3, HR, R, 4 RBI
• Kaili Chval: 2-for-4, 2B, R
• Abby Knight: 1-for-4, R, RBI
• Jayden Standish: 1-for-3, RBI

Pitching Breakdown:

• Amanda Fox: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2 WP

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Redbirds were on the board first in the second game of the doubleheader. Brandi LaFountaine drew a leadoff walk in the top of the second before Dayna Kennedy smashed her fifth home run of the season, this one a towering two-run shot to left field, to put the 'Birds up 2-0. 
• The Braves were able to cut the Redbirds' lead in half in the bottom of the second as a single and an Illinois State error allowed the runner to advance to third. A sac fly to right field allowed the run to score, making it 2-1, advantage Redbirds. 
• Illinois State had a big third inning as Chval led off the inning with a double to center field and Olson reached safely in 32^ndconsecutive game by drawing a walk. Knight singled up the middle with one out in the inning, scoring Chval from second. After Bradley made a pitching change, LaFountaine drew her second walk of the day to load the bases for Illinois State. With the bases juiced, Kennedy lined a single to left field and collected two more RBI. The Redbirds led 5-1 after three complete innings. 
• In the top of the fourth, Bryant walked to start the inning for the Redbirds and was able to steal second. Olson followed with another walk before Standish stepped up to the plate. Standish hit a bloop single into shallow center field and Bryant scored, making it 6-1, Illinois State leading Bradley.
• The Braves put runners on in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but the Redbirds were able to strand all five runners Bradley had. Starting pitcher Amanda Fox picked up a few timely strikeouts to end the fourth and sixth innings. 
• After a leadoff walk in the seventh, the Illinois State defense shut down the Braves' offense to win 6-1 in the second game of the doubleheader, and win the 100^th matchup between these two programs. 

ON DECK

The Redbirds will be back in action on Saturday, April 23 to begin a three-game series with the Northern Iowa Panthers (23-11, 14-1 MVC) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Saturday is scheduled to be a doubleheader starting at noon CT followed by a single game on Sunday, April 24 also starting at noon CT. 

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

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.