NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbirds picked up a huge win over Valpo in the first game of the three-game series, defeating the Beacons 10-0 in five innings. The 'Birds move to a winning conference record of 8-7 and a 14-26 overall record.
Bella Wilkerson led the 'Birds going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs while Kaili Chval added on two RBIs. Delainey Bryant earned her 24th consecutive game reaching base with a walk, which moved her into the second longest streak in the nation. The Redbirds strung together 10 hits in the contests to produce 10 runs that resulted in the run rule victory.Â
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'BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Abby Knight earned the first hit of the game for the 'Birds with a single up the middle, which secured her eight-game hitting streak. The Redbirds broke open the game in the second and third innings, plating four runs, three of which came with two outs.
In the bottom of the second, the 'Birds loaded the bases, and a Delainey Bryant walk pushed the first run across the plate. Kaili Chval then dropped in a single into shallow left field, which plated two more runs. The 'Birds would add on another run in the bottom of the third on hits from Jayden Sandish and Bella Wilkerson.
In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Birds exploded for six runs on four hits and two errors by the Beacons. Abby Horton led off the inning with a single to center, and quickly stole second. Knight then singled Horton home to put the 'Birds up by five. Adisyn Hopkins drove in the sixth run scoring Knight after a walk from Standish. Wilkerson came up with two more RBIs on a single to right which brought both Standish and Hopkins home. On back-to-back errors from the Beacons, the 'Birds plate another run. The 'Birds batted through the line up in the inning, with the last run coming from a wild pitch to score Ella Boyer.
In the top of the fifth, Valpo loaded the bases and threatened to continue the game, but a flyout to center ended the contest in a 10-0 run rule victory for the 'Birds, their largest margin of victory in Valley play this season.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will take on Valpo again tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m. CT. The teams will close out the series on Sunday, Apr. 14 at 12:00 p.m. CT.
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