NORMAL, Ill. – It was a storybook ending to Illinois State softball's 2023 regular season as the Redbirds (30-21, 19-7 MVC) recorded two walk-off wins over Southern Illinois (32-18, 13-14 MVC) in a doubleheader on senior day at Marian Kneer Stadium.
The first game of the doubleheader was a 12-11, back-and-forth win for Illinois State. In a game that lasted three hours, the Redbirds were down 9-11 in the bottom of the seventh, but sophomore Abby Knight hit a two-RBI double to tie the game and then scored the winning run on a wild pitch to complete a walk-off of the Salukis.
The second game did not prove to be any shorter as the Redbirds and Salukis entered into a weather delay in the bottom of the sixth with Illinois State up 6-1. After an hour delay, the game resumed with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. Fifth-year senior Emme Olson hit a two-run home run to bring the Redbirds within one run of a run-rule, walk-off victory. Then, senior Chloe Jefferson hit the walk-off home run, another two-run shot, in what could be her final at-bat at Marian Kneer Stadium to give Illinois State the 10-1, six-inning victory over Southern Illinois to cap off senior day.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
- Emme Olson: 2-for-2, 2B, 2 HBP, BB, 3 RBI, R
- Kaili Chval: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 3 R
- Abby Knight: 2-for-4, 2B, HBP, 2 RBI, R
- Addison Masching: 1-for-3, SF, 3 RBI, R
- Brandi LaFountaine: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, RBI, R
- Jayden Standish: 0-for-1, 4 BB, R
- Hanna Hicks: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Amanda Fox: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 HBP
- Hannah Meshnick: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HBP
- Hannah Meeks (W, 7-2): 4.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State had a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first, but no 'Birds crossed the plate and it remained scoreless through one frame.
Southern Illinois was able to take the lead in the top of the second. A hit-by-pitch started the inning, but a single and a walk followed to load the bases. Another single up the middle allowed the Salukis to score the first run of the game and keep the bases loaded with no outs. The Redbirds were able to collect an out, but SIU drew a one-out, bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0 and Illinois State made a pitching change.
Freshman Hannah Meshnick entered in relief of senior starter Amanda Fox, and Meshnick walked the first batter she faced as well to drive in another run for the Salukis. A strikeout looking was the second out of the inning, but a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded extended SIU's lead to 4-0. A two-RBI double then made it 6-0, but a pop-up ended the inning for the Redbirds.
The Illinois State offense answered back in the bottom of the second as the Redbirds were able to put up five runs. The inning started with a leadoff walk to junior Jayden Standish. Standish then went from first to third on a single by senior Dayna Kennedy, and Kennedy ended up on second after the throw went to third base. A walk to the designated player, junior Hanna Hicks, loaded the bases for the Redbirds. Senior Brandi LaFountaine hit into a fielder's choice as Standish was out at home, but sophomore Addison Masching picked up the 'Birds with a two-RBI single to center field. Southern Illinois was able to collect the second out of the inning, but senior Kaili Chval drew a two-out walk to reload the bases. With two outs in the inning, all runners went on contact and fifth-year senior Emme Olson doubled to center field, clearing the bases and making it a one-run ballgame.
It seemed to be an offense-heavy game as Southern Illinois added a few insurance runs in the top of the third. Illinois State had two outs in the inning and SIU had runners on first and second as the Salukis hit a two-RBI triple. The following batter then blasted a two-run homer to bring the Salukis' lead to 10-5 after two and a half innings of play.
Illinois State had another answer in the bottom of the third, and it started very similar to the second inning. Standish drew a leadoff walk to start the inning and advanced to second a pop-up, foul out to left field. Another walk to Hicks put two on for LaFountaine who doubled down the left field line and Standish scored. Masching followed with a sacrifice fly to bring the game back within reach at 10-7 in favor of SIU.
In the top of the fourth, freshman Hannah Meeks entered to pitch for the Redbirds and had a clean first inning of work, going three up, three down with a flyout and two groundouts.
The 'Birds were back within one after the bottom of the fourth. Chval started the inning with a single through the left side and Olson notched her second double of the game to put two runners in scoring position. Knight got hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Standish drew her third walk of the game to earn an RBI and score Chval. Olson then scored on a wild pitch and it was a one-run game again, 10-9, with SIU still on top.
Illinois State had a chance in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs, but the Redbirds were unable to come up with a run.
Southern Illinois was able to tack on another run in the top of the seventh as a leadoff walk and an error allowed an unearned run to score, making it 11-9.
Illinois State had its final chance to tie the game or win it in the bottom of the seventh with the heart of the order coming up and down by two runs. Chval drew a walk to start the inning and Olson got hit by a pitch to put two runners on, and the speedy freshman Abby Horton entered to run for Olson. SIU made a pitching change to try to hold off the threatening Redbirds, but a wild pitch from the new Saluki pitcher allowed each runner to move up a bag. Knight then lined a double to the gap in left center field and both Redbirds scored to tie the game at 11-11. Standish was then retired for the first time this game, but she did her job. Her groundout moved Knight to third base and Knight was then able to score the winning run on a wild pitch to walk-off the Salukis 12-11.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
- Emme Olson: 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, R
- Chloe Jefferson: 1-for-3, HR, SF, 3 RBI, R
- Addison Masching: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
- Hanna Hicks: 2-for-2, 2 RBI, R
- Dayna Kennedy: 1-for-3, 2B, HBP, RBI, R
- Abby Knight: 2-for-4, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Ross (W, 13-8): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 2 WP, 2 HBP
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a three-hour first game, Illinois State and Southern Illinois started game two 30 minutes later with first pitch at 4:35 p.m.
It was a quiet first inning for both squads, but the Redbirds took the lead in the bottom of the second. Kennedy was robbed of a home run as SIU's left fielder tipped the ball back into play to hold her to a stand-up double. Kennedy then advanced to third on a wild pitch and LaFountaine drew a two-out walk. Another wild pitch scored Kennedy from third and LaFountaine attempted to go from first to third and was ultimately called safe at third due to interreference, but Hicks [Hanna] entered to pinch run for LaFountaine at third base. A double to left center from Masching scored Hicks and Illinois State led 2-0 after two innings.
The Redbirds added to their lead in the bottom of the third. Olson drew a leadoff walk and freshman Bailah Bognar entered to pinch run for the fifth-year senior. Knight and Standish knocked back-to-back singles to load the bases for the 'Birds. Kennedy then got hit by a pitch, scoring Bognar, and sophomore Emma Hicks entered to pinch run for Kennedy. Senior Chloe Jefferson then fouled out to right field, but Knight tagged up and scored from third while Standish and Hicks [Emma] both moved into scoring position. Hicks [Hanna] singled through the left side, scoring Standish and her sister, Emma, bringing the Redbirds' lead to 6-0 through three complete innings.
Southern Illinois was able to push a run across in the top of the fifth as a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a single loaded the bases for the Salukis. Great defense by the Redbirds got the second out of the inning at home on a fielder's choice, but a two-out, bases-loaded walk plated SIU's lone run of the game.
As it got later in the game, the weather was starting to become a factor. In the bottom of the sixth, Chval drew a walk to lead off the inning, but before the next batter, the game entered into a lightning delay around 6:30 p.m. The game resumed at 7:50 p.m. with Chval on first, Olson up to bat and the Redbirds with a 6-1 lead. The delay did not faze Olson was she launched her eighth home run of the season to dead center field to bring the score to 8-1, and give Illinois State a chance at a walk-off, run-rule victory. Knight followed Olson with a single up the middle. After a strikeout to Standish, Jefferson stepped up to the plate in what could be her last at-bat at Marian Kneer Stadium. The senior then hit a no-doubter over the wall in left field to walk-off the Salukis 10-1 on senior day and give Illinois State a series sweep in its final MVC series of the 2023 regular season.
NOTES
- Illinois State earned its fifth series sweep of the 2023 season. The series sweep of the Salukis secured the third seed and first day bye for the Redbirds in the MVC Tournament in Carbondale, Ill. on May 10-13.
- Two seniors, Olson and Jefferson, hit home runs in what could be their final at-bats at Marian Kneer Stadium.
- Olson had three doubles this weekend which brings her career total to 53 and extends her program record in the category.
- Standish drew four walks in the first game of the doubleheader which is a career high for the junior. She is the first Redbird since 2019 to draw four walks in a single game and only the fourth Redbird to do so in program history. Last was Brittni LaFountaine, sister of Brandi LaFountaine, against NC State on Feb. 8, 2019.
- In the first season under head coach Tina Kramos, the Redbirds have 30 wins and have ended third in the conference after the regular season. In the last decade (since 2013), Illinois State has two other 30-win seasons (2021 & 2017).
ON DECK
Illinois State (30-21, 19-7) will travel to Carbondale, Ill. on May 10-13 to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hosted by Southern Illinois. The Redbirds are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 against the winner of No. 11 UIC versus No. 6 Southern Illinois which will be played at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10. All games will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
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