CHICAGO, Ill. – The Redbirds fell in game one of the series with UIC, in a one-run walkoff. The Redbirds move to 12-25 on the season, and 6-6 in conference.
Abby Knight had the most clutch hit of the day with a homerun in the top of the seventh, down to the final out, which tied the game for the 'Birds. The homer was Knight's first of the season, and just the fifth of her career. Delainey Bryant continued her reaching base streak, moving it to 21 consecutive games, while ending her 13 game hitting streak.
'BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Paige McLeod: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB,
- Hannah Meshnick: (L, 5-11) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the top of the first, Delainey Bryant led-off the game with a walk, and moved to third on a Kaili Chval bunt coupled with an error from the Flames. Chval would then attempt a delay steal of second, which drew the throw to allow Bryant to come home safely. Chval would eventually come around to score on an RBI groundout from Abby Knight to put the 'Birds up a pair in the first. The Flames would then come back in the bottom of the inning, plating two runs on three hits.
In the third, the Redbirds plated two more runs to take the 4-2 lead. Knight and Adisyn Hopkins had back-to-back two-out singles to get aboard in the inning, before Ella Boyer drove them in on an error by the Flames.
In the bottom of the sixth, down to their last six outs, the Flames put up three runs on four hits and one Redbird error. UIC jumped out ahead to a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the seventh. After a flyout and a groundout, and down to the final out of the game, Knight came through in the clutch with a two-out homer to tie the game at five apiece. The homer was Knight's third hit of the day.
Although Knight's heroics tied the fame in the top of the inning, the Flames came back to take the walkoff victory in the bottom on one hit which scored a leadoff walk.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will take on UIC again tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 6, in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT. The traditional doubleheader will take place instead of the single games on Saturday and Sunday due to impending weather conditions in Chicago. The second game of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
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