Redbirds Outscore Purple Aces 12-2 to Sweep Saturday Doubleheader

NORMAL, Ill. – Fantastic pitching in the circle and three home runs lift Illinois State (15-18, 6-4 MVC) to a Saturday sweep of Evansville (20-14, 5-6 MVC) to open the three-game series between the Redbirds and the Purple Aces.

Junior Hannah Ross started in the circle and picked up the win in the first game against Evansville as the Redbirds beat the Purple Aces 3-2. Junior Amanda Fox started the second game, tossing a five-inning complete game with 10 strikeouts and picking up the 100^th of her career. Fox had help from her offense as sophomore Jayden Standish hit her second career grand slam to put the Redbirds on top, and they continued to rally, eventually winning the second game 9-0 after five innings. 

BIRD BITS (Game 1)

Offensive Highlights:

• Dayna Kennedy: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Abby Knight: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
• Addison Masching: 1-for-2, 2B, R, BB

Pitching Breakdown:

• Hannah Ross: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SO
• Amanda Fox: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, SO

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ross had not pitched since Sunday, April 3 against Indiana State, but she came out firing today against the Evansville Purple Aces. She allowed no earned runs through six innings, only surrendering five hits and picking up three strikeouts.
• It was a pitchers' duel through four innings as each team put a few runners on, but no one crossed the plate.
• The Redbirds were on the board first as Abby Knight led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center field, collecting her third home run of the season and 17^th RBI. 
• Evansville took the lead in the top of the sixth on a very strange inside-the-park home run that scored two, the Aces led 2-1. 
• They did not have the lead for long as Addison Masching drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth and junior catcher Dayna Kennedy blasted a towering two-run home run, barely fair, to left field. The Redbirds were back on top 3-2 with three outs left to play. 
• After giving up a single to start the seventh, Ross was replaced by Fox in the circle. Fox got one out before walking two straight batters to load the bases. The second out came in the form of an infield fly before Fox closed the door on the Aces with a strikeout swinging to secure the save and a win for the Redbirds in game one.

BIRD BITS (Game 2)

Offensive Highlights:

• Jayden Standish: 2-for-2, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
• Emme Olson: 2-for-2, 2 RBI, R, BB
• Addison Masching: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
• Kaili Chval: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB

Pitching Breakdown:

• Amanda Fox: 5.0 IP, 3 H, BB, 10 SO, HBP

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Redbirds' bats continued to stay hot in the second game of the doubleheader against Evansville. 
• Emme Olson continued her on-base streak, picking up a walk in the first game, and tallying Illinois State's first hit of the second game on a perfectly placed bunt, just outside the batter's box. Standish followed with a single up the middle, but the runners were left stranded. 
• No runs scored until the bottom of the third as the Redbirds took the lead. Delainey Bryant started the rally with a single up the middle followed by some small ball as Chval laid down a bunt for a hit. Olson drew a walk to load the bases for the Redbirds as Standish stepped up to the plate. On an 0-2 count, Standish smashed her second career grand slam over the center field wall, putting the 'Birds up 4-0 over the Purple Aces. Standish hit her first career grand slam last season on March 7, 2021, against Coastal Carolina. 
• In the top of the fourth, Fox struck out the side, and picked her 100^th career strikeout, along with strikeout no. 101 and 102. 
• Illinois State tacked on a few more runs in a productive bottom of the fourth. Reili Gardner started the inning with an infield single. Bryant reached on a fielder's choice and Gardner was safe at second on a fielding error by the Aces' second baseman. Chval singled to left field, driving in Gardner who was on third after advancing on a wild pitch. Chval stole second to give Illinois State two runners in scoring position, and a single by Olson scored Bryant and Chval. 
• The Redbirds were up 7-0 after the single by Olson, forcing a pitching change for the Purple Aces, and Rebecca Moffett entered to pinch run for Olson at first. 
• Still in the bottom of the fourth, Standish was the first batter who faced the new Evansville pitcher, and she drew a walk. Both Moffett and Standish scored on a double to right center by Masching before the inning ended, making it a 9-0 lead by the Redbirds. 
• Fox gave up a single to start the top of the fifth, but that was it. She fanned the final batter to pick up her tenth strikeout of the game and give Illinois State its second victory of the day. 

NOTES

• Olson extended her reached base safely streak to 25 consecutive games, drawing a walk in the first game and going 2-for-2 with a walk in the second game. 
• Fox recorded a save and a win on the day, striking out 11 batters over her six innings pitched. She picked up her 100^th career strikeout in 125 career innings pitched. She has 95 strikeouts this season in 111.2 innings pitched. 
• Standish's grand slam in the second game of today's doubleheader was the second of her career as she hit another one in 2021 against Coastal Carolina (Mar. 7, 2021). In that game she was 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBI, and two runs scored. Standish is tied for the team lead in batting average in conference games this season, batting .357 through 10 conference contests. 

ON DECK

The Redbirds will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 10, at 12 p.m. CT against Evansville to close out the three-game set at Marian Kneer Stadium. Illinois State softball will be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Title IX by honoring some special guests prior to first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. 

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