DES MOINES, Iowa – Behind a pair of masterful outings in the circle from senior Hannah Ross and freshman Hannah Meshnick, Illinois State (23-17, 12-3 MVC) defeated Drake (11-26, 4-11 MVC) 2-1 and 10-3 in a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Ross (W, 8-7) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 WP
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one of the day was a pitcher's duel between senior Hannah Ross and Drake's starter Mackenzie Hupke. Despite the low 2-1 final score, the Redbirds had at least one baserunner every inning.
The 'Birds were able to take an early lead in the top of the first. Back-to-back walks drawn by senior Kaili Chval and fifth-year senior Emme Olson put two on with one out for sophomore Abby Knight. Knight singled to center field to load the bases and junior Jayden Standish drew the third walk of the inning to put Illinois State up 1-0.
Drake was able to tie the game in the bottom of the third. Ross was seven up and seven down before she surrendered a one-out double in the third. A wild pitch moved the runner over to third and a passed ball allowed the run to score to even the score at 1-1.
The tie was broken in the top of the fifth as Olson led off the inning with a solo home run to right field that hit off the light pole and bounced back into the field of play. The solo shot ended up being the difference in the game.
After giving up the one run in the bottom of the third, Ross was lights out as she did not allow a single hit after that inning. Illinois State picked up the 2-1 win in the first game of the day.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
- Abby Knight: 3-for-4, HBP, 2 RBI
- Hanna Hicks: 2-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, 3 R
- Kaili Chval: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, R
- Addison Masching: 1-for-2, 3B, BB, R
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Dayna Kennedy: 2-for-4, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first two innings were quiet on both sides as the Redbirds left a pair stranded in the second after a hit-by-pitch to Knight and a walk drawn by sophomore Addison Masching. Drake also had a few runners on but nothing came of it.
In the top of the third, junior Hanna Hicks led off the inning by drawing a walk. After Bryant followed with a popup to the shortstop, Chval drew another walk to put two runners on. A fielder's choice allowed Olson to reach first safely and move Hicks over to third while Chval was out at second. Knight then singled to the Bulldogs' second baseman and Hicks scored the first run of the game.
Illinois State was able to add another run in the top of the fourth. Senior Dayna Kennedy beat out an infield single to the shortstop and freshman Emma Hicks entered to pinch run. Masching laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hicks into scoring position. With two outs in the inning, Hanna Hicks came up to the plate with her younger sister still on second base. Hanna doubled to the gap in left center to drive in Emma and extend the Redbirds' lead to 2-0.
Drake took the lead for the first time in the series as the Bulldogs put up three runs on a bases-loaded triple to center field in the bottom half of the fourth.
The Redbirds tied it up in the top of the fifth as Chval led off the inning by drawing her second walk of the game. Knight singled with one out in the inning to move Chval into scoring position. Kennedy then collected her second hit of the game, this one a shot through the right side that scored Chval to tie the game at 3-3.
The game did not stay tied for long as the Redbirds put up three runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead. Hanna Hicks reached base safely for the third time on a leadoff walk and Bryant followed with an infield single. Chval doubled to drive in Hicks to take the lead. With runners on second and third, Olson singled up the middle and Bryant crossed the plate. Knight recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice as Chval scored the third run of the inning, bringing the score to 6-3 in favor of the Redbirds.
Freshman Hannah Meshnick who entered in relief of senior Amanda Fox to begin the fifth inning, sat the Bulldogs down in order in the bottom of the sixth.
The Redbirds were not done yet as they scored a few insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Masching knocked the team's first triple of the season with one out in the inning. Senior Chloe Jefferson entered to pinch hit and doubled to center field to bring in Masching. Hanna Hicks singled to right field and Illinois State had runners on the corners with one out. Bryant then smashed a double that scored Jefferson and put two runners in scoring position. Drake decided to make a pitching change.
After the change in the circle, the Bulldog's new pitcher faced Chval who grounded out to the pitcher, but first baseman's the throw to second to keep Bryant from advancing allowed Hicks to score her third run of the game. The final run of the inning scored on an error made by Drake's second baseman. Heading into the final frame of the game, the Redbirds led 10-3.
Drake went down in order with Meshnick picking up her only strikeout of the day for the final out of the game. She only allowed one hit in her 3.0 innings pitched and got the win in the circle as Illinois State defeated the Bulldogs 10-3 in the second game of the doubleheader.
NOTES
- After defeating the Bulldogs 10-3 in the second game of the day, Illinois State moves to 19-0 when the Redbirds score 5+ runs.
- Olson extended her reached base safely streak to 16 consecutive games. Her previous season-high was 14 consecutive games. She is also one double away from breaking the program record for career doubles and one hit away from breaking into the top five in program history in career hits. She currently has 204 hits and sits at sixth in program history.
- Ross moves to 8-7 on the season with her eighth complete game of the season. It is also her second win of the week after defeating Bradley in a complete game effort earlier in the week.
- [Hanna] Hicks scored three runs in the second game of the day as she started as the Redbirds' designated player. Her three runs scored is a new career high in the category. Her previous career high was two runs scored which she did on two occasions.
- The Redbirds secured the series win over the Bulldogs which is their fourth series win of the 2023 season. Illinois state split a pair of games with Belmont and lost the series 1-2 to Missouri State.
ON DECK
Illinois State (23-17, 13-3 MVC) will finish the series with Drake (11-26, 4-11 MVC) on Saturday, Apr. 15 at 11 a.m. CT in Des Moines, Iowa.
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