NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State (13-17, 4-4 MVC) defeated Drake (9-19, 3-5 MVC) 8-0 in five innings to start the day before falling 13-0 to the Bulldogs in the second contest of the doubleheader on Tuesday.
BIRD BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Illinois State jumped out to an early lead as leadoff hitter, Delainey Bryant, got hit by a pitch and stole second to give the 'Birds a runner in scoring position with no outs. Kaili Chval drew a walk, hitting second in the lineup today. Emme Olson advanced the runners on a groundout and Jayden Standish drove Chval home on a sacrifice fly to right field.
- The Redbirds did not record another hit until the bottom of the fourth inning as Illinois State rallied with two outs. Addison Masching started the rally with a single through the right side and the Bulldogs were charged with an error, allowing Rebecca Moffett to reach safely. A hit by pitch loaded the bases for the 'Birds, and Bryant's patient at bat led to Drake walking in a run. Chval continued the inning with a single to left field, knocking in two runs, and advanced to second on the throw.
- After giving up three runs with two outs in the inning, the Bulldogs were forced to make a change in the circle.
- The Redbirds scored two more runs in the fourth on a double by Emme Olson, which extended her reached base safely streak to 21 consecutive games.
- The Bulldogs threatened in the top of the fifth with bases loaded, but Amanda Fox caught a batter looking to end the inning.
- Standish led off the bottom of the fifth, reaching base on an error by the Bulldogs. Madi Bylak came in to pinch run and she advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts. Moffett got hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners for the 'Birds. Entering to pinch hit, Brandi LaFountaine laced a double to right center field, scoring Bylak and Moffett, and giving Illinois State eight runs, ending the game after five innings of play.
BIRD BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Amanda Fox: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
- Allison Tillema: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, SO, HBP
- Annie Volkers: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Game two for the 'Birds did not go their way as they were shutout in five innings of play.
- Fox started game two for the Redbirds after pitching a five-inning complete game in game one, and gave up five runs on five hits through three innings of the second game.
- Illinois State recorded its first hit in the bottom half of the third has Bella Wilkerson led off the inning with a double to left field, but the 'Birds came up empty.
- Allison Tillema relieved Fox in the circle and pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing four more runs to cross and picking up a strikeout.
- Freshman Annie Volkers entered in the fourth for her first appearance since Feb. 25 against Ohio. She got the final out of the fourth on a fly ball to left field. By the end of the fourth, the Bulldogs led 9-0.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Olson walked which extended her reached base safely streak to 22 consecutive games. Chloe Jefferson entered to pinch hit and singled to left center, giving the 'Birds two runners on with no outs. Illinois State could not capitalize on the opportunity.
- Drake scored four more runs in the top of the fifth to make it 13-0, and the Redbirds ended the game on three consecutive fly balls to left field, dropping the second game of the day to the Bulldogs.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will be back in action on Wednesday, April 6 at 5 p.m. against Illinois (17-13, 3-2 Big Ten) at Marian Kneer Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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.
