'Birds Split the Day Against Drake

NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbirds split the day with the Bulldogs, taking the 8-2 victory in game two, while falling 10-3 in the first. The 'Birds improve to 12-23 on the season and 6-4 in MVC play.

The 'Birds combined for 19 hits on the day, while scoring 11 runs. Delainey Bryant continued both of her streaks in the doubleheader, improving the reaching base streak to 19 consecutive games, while extending her hitting streak to 12 consecutive games. The Redbirds hit three home runs on the day, coming off the bats of Bryant, Jayden Standish, and Ella Boyer. 

'BIRDS BITS (Game 1)

Offensive Highlights:

• Bella Wilkerson: 1-for-3, RBI
• Hanna Hicks: 1-for-3, RBI
• Adisyn Hopkins: 1-for-3

Pitching Breakdown:

• Hannah Meshnick: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Paige McLeod: (L, 7-6) 4.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first two innings were quiet on both sides, with just three hits between the two teams. In the top of the third, Drake got on the board first on four hits which scored two runs. The Redbirds tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth, building an inning that began with a leadoff single from Adisyn Hopkins. Ella Boyer and Julia Larson had back-to-back singles to load the bases for the 'Birds. Bella Wilkerson then drove in the first Redbird run on a single up the middle. On the same play, a fieldeing error from the Bulldogs would plate another.  

In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs regained the lead on a solo shot to left, but it was the seven-run inning for Drake in the top of the seventh that put the 'Birds in a deficit that they could not overcome.

'BIRD BITS (Game 2)

Offensive Highlights:

• Delainey Bryant: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
• Ella Boyer: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Jayden Standisht: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Adisyn Hopkins: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R
• Abby Knight: 2-for-3, 2 R

Pitching Breakdown:

• Hannah Meshnick: (W, 5-10) 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
• Paige McLeod: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB

HOW IT HAPPENED

The 'Birds began with a bang, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Delainey Bryant led-off the game with a single, which accomplished her maintaining both her reaching base and hitting streaks. Julia Larson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bryant to third, after she stole second. With Bryant on the corner, Jayden Standish came up huge with a two-run homer to right center to put the first two runs on the board. Abby Knightand Adisyn Hopkins then had back-to-back singles to put runners aboard, and on an Ella Boyer single and a throwing error from the Bulldogs, the 'Birds plated two more on the inning. The last run one would score on an RBI groundout from Bella Wilkerson.

The 'Birds did not stop at five, in the bottom of the second, they added two more runs on a leadoff home run from Bryant, a single from Knight, and a double from Hopkins to score Knight. Drake plated its first runs in the top of the fifth on three hits, but in the bottom half of the inning, the 'Birds got one back on a solo shot from Boyer. 

The Redbirds would hang on to the 8-2 score to earn the victory in game two of the series. 

UP NEXT

The Redbirds close out their nine-game homestand with the rubber match against Drake on Saturday, Mar. 30 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Following the game tomorrow, their will be an egg hunt on Marian Kneer field for children ages 12 and under. 

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