TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Redbirds earned the 9-4 victory over Indiana State to take game two of the three-game series in Terre Haute. The 'Birds move to 18-27 on the season and 12-8 in conference play.
The Redbirds had five hits on the day, including Delainey Bryant's 50th hit of the season. Bryant also reached base earlier in the game, which earned her 29th consecutive game reaching base, which ties her for first in the streak nationally. Bryant is in elite company, as she is tied with Oklahoma's Jayda Coleman and Dayton's
Maddie Kapsimalis.
'BIRD BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Paige McLeod: (W, 11-8) 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 22 BF
- Hannah Meshnick: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 6 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
On both sides of the board, the pitchers worked three scoreless innings, with just two combined hits. In the top of the fourth, the Redbirds got on the board first, without even putting up their first hit. Delainey Bryant earned herself a spot on second after reaching on a dropped third strike, and taking second on the ricochet of the wild pitch. Bryant was moved over on a bunt from Kaili Chval, before an error from the Sycamores on a pop up from Abby Knight allowed Bryant to score.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Sycamores created momentum with a walk and a double to put runners in scoring position with just one away. The Sycamores then tied up the game on a single to left. The Redbirds used incredible defense to minimize the damage, on a throw from Bella Wilkerson to Bryant, and back to Wilkerson to tag out the runner trying to steal home.
The Redbirds battled back in the fifth inning, earning the run back on a single from Wilkerson, and another single from pinch-hitter, Julia Larson. Larson's line drive to center brought home pinch-runner Payton Brown.
The 'Birds continued to put on pressure in the top of the sixth, loading the bases beginning with a double from Chval. Knight followed it up with a single of her own, before Jayden Standish loaded them up, reaching base on an error from the Sycamores. Adisyn Hopkins was the hit by a pitch to bring across the third Redbird run, the second of the inning. Hanna Hicks was then brought in to pinch-hit for Boyer, and earned a walk to plate another run. The 'Birds then ran away with the inning, plating two more on a single from Addison Masching. Larson found herself joining the party after reaching on a throwing error which scored another run. The final two runs of the inning came across on a single from Bryant and a fielder's choice from Knight. The 'Birds plated seven in the inning to force the potential run rule in the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Sycamores responded with a three-run homerun to continue the game, but with the 'Birds still leading by a margin of five runs. The hit ended the day for Paige McLeod, bringing Hannah Meshnick to the mound for the to close out the game, with McLeod still earning the victory.
UP NEXT
The series with the Syacamores will close out tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 21 at 11:00 a.m. CT. The 'Birds will then head back on the road to UNI for their last road series of the conference play.
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