BOCA RATON, Fla. – Illinois State softball (4-12) dropped its first game of the day 3-1 to Texas State (15-5) in an extra-inning thriller, but the Redbirds bounced back to take game two against Oakland (3-6) in an 8-0, five-inning victory that was capped off by a walk-off home run by Chloe Jefferson.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Texas State)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Due to a problem with the stats system, the current stats and play-by-play are not completely accurate and are unavailable at this time. A correct box score and play by play will be available soon on GoRedbirds.com.
There was not a lot of offense in the Redbirds' opening game in the Owl Classic against Texas State.
Illinois State struck first in the third inning as sophomore Addison Masching drew a walk and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single from sophomore Delainey Bryant scored Masching to give the Redbirds an early lead.
Texas State scored in the seventh to tie the game and push it to extra innings. The Bobcats then pushed two runs across in the eighth as a runner was placed on second to begin the inning.
Illinois State came back up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth and had a runner on third, but the Redbirds were unable to regain the lead and lost 3-1 to Texas State.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Oakland)
Offensive Highlights:
- Hannah Meeks: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R, SO
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Abby Knight: 2-for-2, 2B, BB, 2 R
- Brandi LaFountaine: 1-for-2, RBI
- Chloe Jefferson: 1-for-1, HR, RBI, R
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds were on the board early against Oakland, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Abby Knight sliced a one-out double down the left field line and sophomore Delainey Bryant followed with a double of her own to score Knight. A fly out moved Bryant to third and starting pitcher freshman Hannah Meeks doubled to right center for her first career hit and first career RBI as Bryant came around to score.
The second inning was the quiet before the storm for Illinois State as the Redbirds put up a five-spot on the Golden Grizzlies in the home half of the inning. Fifth-year senior Emme Olson led off the inning reaching base safely and Knight followed with a walk which forced a pitching change for Oakland. Bryant collected her second hit of the game, this one an RBI single that scored Olson. Junior Jayden Standish singled through the left side to load the bases for Meeks who then smacked her second double of the game to center field, scoring Bryant and Knight. Oakland was able to get two outs, but an error by the Grizzlies' defense allowed another run to score and the inning to continue with runners on first and third. Senior Brandi LaFountaine singled to center field to score Meeks from third and turn the lineup over, but Oakland made the third and final out on a lineout from Olson who started the inning.
Meeks allowed her first hit of the game to the leadoff batter in the top of the fourth which was a double to the gap in left center. Oakland followed with a single to put runners at the corners, but three consecutive outs kept the Golden Grizzlies scoreless. Senior Amanda Fox entered the circle to pitch in the top of the fifth. She hit the first batter she saw, but a fly out, strikeout and line out kept Oakland off the board.
With the score set at 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth and sophomore Bella Wilkerson set to leadoff for Illinois State, senior Chloe Jefferson entered to pinch hit. Jefferson blasted a solo home run to left field to walk-off Oakland 8-0 in five innings.
NOTES
- Meeks was on fire – both in the circle and at the plate. She collected her first career hit, an RBI double in the bottom of the first, and she tossed a career-high three strikeouts in her 4.0 innings of work. She ended the day only giving up two hits in the circle and picking up the win while going 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored at the plate.
- Jefferson's home run was the third of the season as well as the third of her career.
ON DECK
Illinois State returns to action Saturday, Mar. 4 at 10:30 a.m. CT against Florida Atlantic (11-7). Live stats will be available as well as a stream on C-USA.tv ($).
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