TAMPA, Fla. – Despite a loss earlier in the day, Illinois State (1-2) defeated Saint Joseph's (0-2) in the Redbirds' second game of the day to earn their first win of the season and give first-year head coach Tina Kramos her first career win.
Illinois State split its two games on Friday, losing the first game 4-0 to Boston College (1-0) despite drawing eight walks. The Redbirds bounced back to win their second game of the day 8-2 against Saint Joseph's, earning them their first win of the season and their head coach's first career win.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Boston College)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds had an opportunity to score early in the game as Delainey Bryant drew a leadoff walk and Addison Masching was able to move Bryant over to second. A wild pitch allowed Bryant to swipe third and a walk to Dayna Kennedy put runners at the corners, but Illinois State came up empty.
Boston College was on the board in the bottom of the second as a double and a pair of infield singles allowed the Eagles to take a 1-0 lead.
Illinois state loaded the bases in the third on three consecutive walks, but the Redbirds could not capitalize.
The Eagles extended their lead in the bottom half of the third as a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch plated a run and a double drove in two more. Boston College took a 4-0 lead in the third and held on to shutout the Redbirds in their first game of the day.
NOTES
- Illinois State drew eight walks against Boston College.
- Freshman Hannah Meshnick relieved starting pitcher Amanda Fox and tossed 3.1 scoreless innings while also picking up her first career strikeouts.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Saint Joseph's)
Offensive Highlights:
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB, SF
- Kaili Chval: 2-for-4, RBI, R, BB, SO
- Emme Olson: 3-for-4, R, SO
- Abby Knight: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, BB, HBP
- Jayden Standish: 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, SB, SO
- Bella Wilkerson: 2-for-4, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
A one-out walk to Kaili Chval was followed by a single from Emme Olson to get things started in the top of the first. Abby Knight was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jayden Standish then cleared the bases on a double to the gap in left center, putting the 'Birds on top 3-0 after half an inning.
After a three up, three down bottom half of the first from Hannah Ross, a trio of singles from Bella Wilkerson, Delainey Bryant and Olson juiced the bases once again for the Redbirds. Knight earned an RBI as she drew a two-out walk and the Redbirds added to their lead.
Illinois State scored again in the third as Addison Masching led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a defensive error. Masching's heads up baserunning skills allowed her score on a passed ball, giving the Redbirds a 5-0 lead after two and a half innings.
Saint Joseph's retaliated in the bottom half of the third, plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and a two-out, RBI single.
The Redbirds would not let up as they added a few insurance runs in the fourth and seventh. Knight slashed an infield single that scored Bryant in the top of the fourth to collect her second RBI of the game. Bryant then added an RBI to her two-hit day on a sacrifice fly in the seventh that saw Bailah Bognar score in her first appearance as a Redbird. A single up the middle from Chval plated the eighth and final run for the Redbirds.
In the first meeting between Illinois State and Saint Joseph's, the Redbirds proved victorious, earning them their first win of the season on an 8-2 decision.
NOTES
ON DECK
The Redbirds will close out the USF-Rawlings tournament on Saturday, Feb. 11 with a pair of games against No. 4/5 Florida (0-0) at 1 p.m. CT and USF (1-0) at 6 p.m. CT.
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