BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Fifth-year senior Emme Olson continued to stay hot at the plate for the Redbirds despite Illinois State's (3-11) 6-1 loss in the Hilltopper Spring Fling finale to Western Kentucky (9-6).
BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:Â
- Emme Olson: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
- Addison Masching: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, SF
- Jayden Standish: 1-for-3, 2B, R
- Delainey Bryant: 1-for-4, 2B, SO
- Kaili Chval: 1-for-2, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Meeks (L, 1-2): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, BB, K, WP, HBP
- Hannah Ross (1-4): 1.2 IP, 2 BB, K
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of walks to senior Emme Olson and senior Dayna Kennedy put two on in the first, but the Redbirds were unable to plate a run.Â
Western Kentucky wasted no time in the bottom half of the inning as the Hilltoppers scored five runs on five hits. Two singles followed by a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for WKU. A wild pitch from freshman Hannah Meeks allowed the runner on third to score and the others to snag an extra base. Another single allowed the Hilltoppers to take a 2-0 lead with no outs. Three more runs scored on a single, an error and a double steal before the first inning was over.Â
The Redbirds scored their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth as junior Jayden Standish knocked a one-out double to right center and senior Kaili Chval followed Standish with a single to put runners at the corners. Sophomore Addison Masching then collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field.Â
After a rough first inning from Meeks, she did not allow another baserunner until the bottom of the fourth as WKU recorded a single, but nothing came of it.Â
Olson doubled in the top of the fifth and freshman Bailah Bognar entered to pinch run. A groundout moved Bognar over to third, but the inning ended before the Redbirds could plate a run.Â
Western Kentucky scored its sixth run in the bottom of the fifth as a hit-by-pitch and a walk forced a pitching change in the circle for Illinois State. Senior Hannah Ross entered in relief of Meeks and an error by the defense allowed the sixth and final WKU run to score.Â
Despite Ross' 1.2 innings of hitless softball to close out the game, Illinois State dropped the Hilltopper Spring Fling finale 6-1 to Western Kentucky.Â
NOTES
- Olson's 1-for-3 day at the plate kept her hit and reached base safely streaks alive. Her hit streak stands at 12 games while Olson has reached base safely in every contest this season (14). She also reached base safely in the final two games of the 2022 season, so her streak stands at 16 total games. Olson had a reached base safely streak of 32 games during the 2022 season which was the longest of her career and tied the longest known in program history.Â
- Olson also collected her third double of the season and her career total in the category stands at 43. She is now in sole possession of third in program history in career doubles. She was previously tied with Betsy Youngquist (1994-97) and Jordan de los Reyes (2014-17) with 42 doubles.Â
- Ross' appearance against WKU is her first relief appearance of the season and she tossed 1.2 innings while now allowing a hit.Â
ON DECK
Illinois State will travel back to the Sunshine State for a tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic on Mar. 3-5. The FAU Parents-Weekend Tournament includes five games for the Redbirds and the tournament field includes Texas State, Oakland, Winthrop, Penn and FAU.Â
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