DES MOINES, Iowa – Senior Dayna Kennedy blasted a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to lead Illinois State (24-17, 14-3 MVC) to a 3-0 victory against Drake (11-27, 4-12 MVC) and earn the Redbirds' fourth series sweep of the season.
BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Ross (W, 9-7) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
HOW IT HAPPENED
Similar to game one of the series, another pitcher's duel ensued between the Redbirds' starter senior Hannah Ross and Drake's starter senior Mackenzie Hupke.
Both squads went three up and three down in the first inning, but Illinois State threatened in the second. Sophomore Abby Knight reached safely on an error by the Bulldogs' shortstop to lead off the inning. Junior Jayden Standish then doubled to the gap in left center to put two runners in scoring position with no outs, but Hupke came back to get a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to end the inning before any Redbirds could cross the plate.
Illinois State was able to capitalize on a few baserunners in the top of the fourth as fifth-year senior Emme Olson dropped a single into left field to start the inning. Freshman Abby Horton entered to pinch run for Olson as Knight came to plate. Knight flew out for the first out of the inning. Standish followed by reaching safely in her second at-bat of the day as she drew a walk to put two runners on. Senior Dayna Kennedy then blasted the first pitch she saw over the wall in left field to put the 'Birds up 3-0.
Ross faced the minimum through 4.2 innings pitched as an early single by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the second was erased on a double play, but Drake collected its second hit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The Bulldogs were unable to advance the runner and the score remained 3-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
Drake put a runner on in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single and the Bulldogs drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, but could not get a run across either time. Ross went the distance as she scattered three hits across 7.0 innings pitched and fanned six batters to earn her ninth win of the season.
NOTES
- Illinois State now has four series sweeps in Valley play for the 2023 season. The Redbirds have swept Valparaiso, UIC, Bradley and Drake. Their only series loss is to Missouri State who won two of the three games and the Redbirds split two games with Belmont. Illinois State sits at second in the conference with a 14-3 MVC record.
- Ross earned her third victory this week as she tossed a complete game against Bradley on Tuesday, April 11 and got the win in the circle in the first game of the series at Drake. In her three starts this week, she only allowed three earned runs across her 19.0 innings pitched and struck out 14 batters.
- Kennedy blasted her eighth home run of the season which ended up being the difference in the game. She leads the team in home runs and sits at fourth in the conference. Kennedy now has 27 RBI on the season which is a new single-season career high. Previously, Kennedy had 26 RBI in 2022 and 20 RBI in 2021.
- Olson continued her on-base streak as she has now reached base safely in 17 consecutive games. She is also now tied for fifth in program history in career hits with 206 hits. She ties Jhavon Hamilton.
ON DECK
Illinois State (24-17, 14-2 MVC) will head to Champaign, Ill. for a non-conference, midweek matchup with Illinois (23-19, 2-10 Big Ten) on Tuesday, April 18 at 5 p.m. CT. The Redbirds will then return home to host the top-seeded UNI Panthers (25-11, 14-1 MVC) for a three-game home series on April 21-23.
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