NORMAL, Ill. –  Illinois State earned the sweep over I-74 rival Bradley, on Wednesday night in Peoria. The 'Birds played the third and final game of the series on the road, after taking the doubleheader sweep of the Braves at home, earlier in the season. The Redbirds move to 17-26 on the season and 11-7 in conference.
Addison Masching had a career-high night for the 'Birds, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Delainey Bryant's first hit of the night, an RBI single, earned her 27th consecutive game reaching base, which put her back in the third longest active streak in the country. Bryant also had a multi-hit performance on the night.Â
'BIRD BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Meshnick: (W, 7-11) 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 24 BF
- Paige McLeod: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 10 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
The 'Birds got on the board first in the top of the second, scoring on a an RBI single from Delainey Bryant. The inning began with a single from Addison Masching, who earned the first Redbird hit of the game. Abby Horton followed Masching, getting aboard with an error before Bryant drove in the first run.
In the top of the third, the 'Birds added on insurance runs with a four-run inning. Adisyn Hopkins got herself aboard on a fielder's choice, while Abby Knight was thrown out at the plate. Bella Wilkerson then walked to put runners on first and second. A single from Ella Boyer drove in the first run of the inning before another single from Masching drove in the second. Horton added another single to the inning, scoring both Masching and Boyer, to put the Redbirds up five to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Braves got on the board with a single after a combination of walks, hits, and a hit by pitch. The 'Birds were able to make it out of the bases-load inning with just two runs, but the bottom of the sixth, the Braves added another pair of runs to make it a one-run game heading into the seventh. Yet, the Redbirds would add on four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to make the game out of reach.
In the top of the seventh, Boyer got aboard after a throwing error, and advanced to second. Masching earned her fourth hit of the night on an infield single, to put runners on the corners. Bryant came up with a clutch hit, a double down the right field line, to plate both Boyer and Masching which put the 'Birds ahead by three with two away. Kaili Chval worked her way to first after getting hit by a pitch, before Knight's single scored both Bryant and Chval, to make it a five-run game. The 'Birds worked three quick outs in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory and the sweep.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will head on the road to Terre Haute to take on the Sycamores of Indiana State for their second to last conference trip. The first game of the series will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Apr. 19. Game two is slated for Saturday, Apr. 20 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The series will close out on Sunday, Apr. 21 at 11:00 a.m. CT.
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