NORMAL, Ill.- In walk-off fashion, the Redbirds took down the Murray State Racers 6-5 in the first game of the three-game series this weekend. The Redbirds earn their first-ever conference first of the the victory over Murray State.
Delainey Bryant, preserving her 13-game on base streak, came up huge in the victory with a two-RBI double to bring in the winning runs in the bottom of the seventh. The other Redbird runs came on a wild pitch, and a three-run shot for Jayden Standish, her second of the year.
'BIRD BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Meshnick: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 K, 24 BF
- Paige McLeod (W, 5-4) : 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 8 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Racers came out to a hot start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, on three hits. Both the Redbirds and the Racers only faced one batter above in minimum combined over the next two innings.
In the bottom of the third, Ella Boyer led things off for the 'Birds will a double to left center and advanced to third on the next play. Boyer would come around to score the first run of the game for the 'Birds on a wild pitch. With two outs and two runners on, Jayden Standish sent her second home run of the season, a three-run blast, out of the stadium to put the Redbirds on top 4-2.
Murray State regained the lead in the top of the fifth on four hits scoring three runs including a solo shot to right. The Racers held the one-run lead until the bottom of the seventh when the 'Birds built an inning.
Beginning with a Boyer single to center, the 'Birds had one on with no outs. The next batter, Addison Masching worked a walk to put two aboard. A sac-bunt from Bella Wilkerson moved the runners into scoring position with just one away for Delainey Bryant. Bryant then sent a double down the left field line, scoring both Boyer and Masching to earn the walk-off victory, the first of the year at Marian Kneer Stadium.
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