NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbirds secured the series against the Valparaiso Beacons with an 8-3 win on Saturday afternoon. The 'Birds move to 15-26 overall, with a 9-7 conference record. The Redbirds had 14 hits in the win, which is the second most in the 2024 season.
Kaili Chval led the 'Birds going 4-for-4, and became just the second Redbird to earn four hits this season. Jayden Standish, Ella Boyer, and Abby Knight all had multi-hit performances, while Delainey Bryant earned her 25th consecutive game reaching base. With this feat, Bryant becomes tied in the nation for the longest streak.
'BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
- Kaili Chval: 4-for-4, 2B, 2 R
- Jayden Standish: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R
- Abby Knight: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R
- Ella Boyer: 2-for-3, RBI
- Delainey Bryant: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Paige McLeod: (W, 9-8) 7.0 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 33 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons got on the board first, coming on an error from the Redbirds, which moved the first run across the plate. In the bottom of the inning, Kaili Chval earned the first hit of the day for the Redbirds, but was stranded along with Jayden Standish who walked in the inning.
The Redbirds broke the game open in the bottom of the third, plating four runs to take the three-run lead. Chval doubled to lead off the inning, before she was brought home by Abby Knight. The 'Birds tacked on another with an RBI groundout from Bella Wilkerson, before a single from Ella Boyer plated the the third run of the inning. The last run of the inning came on another RBI groundout, this time from Addison Masching, who scored Hopkins.
The Redbirds did not stop in the fourth inning. On a single to left from Adisyn Hopkins, Delainey Bryant came around to score. Bryant's walk earlier in the inning marked her 25th consecutive game reaching base, which tied her for the longest active streak in the nation. In the top of the fifth, the Beacons added two runs on a single to left center, but the Redbirds continued to add insurance. In the bottom of the fifth, the 'Birds scored three runs on five hits to make it a five-run deficit.
The inning began with a single to left from Boyer, who moved over on a sacrifice bunt from Masching. A fielder's choice from pinch-hitter, Madi Bylak, moved the runners before Bryant came up with a double to score the first run. Chval got aboard with a her fourth single, while Knight drove in Bryant during the next at-bat. Standish then earned her second hit of the game on a double to left center which brought Chval around.
Paige McLeod went the full 7.0 innings while earning her ninth win, with four strikeouts and just two earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds and the Beacons will close out the series tomorrow, Sunday , Apr. 14 at 12:00 p.m. CT. The 'Birds will then go on the road to take on Bradley in a single game on Tuesday, Apr. 16.
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