NORMAL, Ill. – After an 8-7 walk-off victory, the Redbirds earned their first Valley sweep of the season, against the Valparaiso Beacons. The Redbirds move to 10-7 in conference play and 16-26 on the season after the three-game series.
Addison Masching walked it off for Illinois State to secure the 8-7 comeback win in the bottom of the seventh. The 'Birds had two homeruns in the game, off the bats of Delainey Bryant and Madi Bylak. Bylak's pinch-hit homer was the first of her career as a Redbird. Four different 'Birds had multi-hit performances, while three had multiple RBIs.
'BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Addison Masching: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R
- Bella Wilkerson: 2-for-4, 2B, R
- Adisyn Hopkins: 2-for-4, R
- Madi Bylak: 1-for-1, HR, RBI, R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Meshnick: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 18 BF
- Paige McLeod: (W, 9-8) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 17 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds worked out of a jam in the top of the first when two runners got aboard on back-to-back walks, but Hannah Meshnick worked out with a pair of strikeouts. Ion the next inning, the Beacons got on the board first in the top of the second, plating three runs to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the 'Birds battled back, first tying the game at three, before taking the lead. Ella Boyer began the inning for the 'Birds with a double to right center, and another double from Addison Masching allowed the 'Birds to plate the first run of the game. Delainey Bryant sent one out of the park to tie the game on a two-run shot over the left field wall. The third double of the inning, this time off the bat of Jayden Standish, plated two more runs in the inning, which brought the 'Birds out ahead 5-3.
The Beacons had an explosive inning on the other side, plating four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead back. The Redbirds made a pitchng change, putting Paige McLeod on the mound, who worked back-to-back scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth to minimize the damage.
In the top of the sixth, Madi Bylak, pinch hit in the last spot of the lineup, and came up with her first-career home run. The solo shot put the 'Birds within one run heading into the seventh.
Adisyn Hopkins earned the first hit of the seventh with a single up the middle, after taking the count to full. ÂBella Wilkerson then doubled her over to third, and the Redbirds had runners on the corners with just one away. Boyer earned herself an RBI on a sacrifice flyout to right field, which allowed Hopkins to cross and tie the game at seven runs apiece. Masching earned her second hit of the day, a double to left center which scored Wilkerson, and earned the Redbirds not just the walkoff win, but the three-game sweep over the Beacons.
UP NEXT
The 'Birds will go on the road to take on Bradley in a single game on Tuesday, Apr. 16, before heading to Indiana State for a three-game series with the Sycamores from Apr. 19-21.
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