HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Redbirds finished the NKU Spring Classic falling to both the Michigan Wolverines and host team, Northern Kentucky. The Redbirds closed out the non-conference portion of the season finishing with a 6-18 record before heading into Missouri Valley play this Friday, March 15 at Missouri State.
Abby Knight tallied the lone hit for the 'Birds in the first game against Michigan, while both Addison Masching and Payton Brown each scored a run. Against NKU, four different Redbirds earned hits, including Ella Boyer who went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
'BIRD BITS (Game 1 vs Michigan)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Meshnick: (L, 3-8) 4.1 IP, 12 H, 13 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 33 BF
- Annie Volkers: 0.2, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Michigan bats overpowered the Redbirds scoring 13 runs on 12 hits. The Wolverines began the game scoring three runs in the top of the first, and adding five more in the top of the second. The Redbirds fought back in the bottom of the third, getting on the board with a pair of runs.
Addison Masching began the inning with a leadoff walk, followed by another walk from Bella Wilkerson. Masching, and Wilkeron's pinch runner, Payton Brown, stole third and second to put runners in scoring position. On a hard hit ball through the right side, Brown and Masching both scored to cut the deficit to six runs. Yet, the Wolverines were able to add five more runs in the top of the fifth to hand the Redbirds the loss.
'BIRD BITS (Game 2 at NKU)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Paige McLeod: (L, 3-3) 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 4 K, 25 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
Paige McLeod left the Norse batters off balance for the first few innings, only giving up one hit through two frames. Yet, the Norse got on the board first, but not until the bottom of the third, on a single through the left side. In the top of the fifth, the Redbirds struck back, taking the 2-1 lead on one hit and two errors from the Norse. Ella Boyer led off the inning with a bunt single, followed by a walk from Delainey Bryant. Jayden Standish reached on a fielding error and earned the RBI, bringing home Boyer. Abby Knight reached first on the next play, another fielding error, which brought home Bryant.
The Redbirds continued to lead the game until the bottom of the sixth when NKU hit a two-run homer to left center, taking the 3-2 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Redbirds put two runners on, but were unable to score in their last chance.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will begin MVC play this Friday, Mar. 15 at 5:00 p.m. CT traveling to Springfield to take on Missouri State. The Redbirds will play another single game on Saturday, Mar. 16 at 2:00 p.m. CT, before closing out the weekend on Sunday, Mar. 17 at 12:00 p.m. CT.
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