CHICAGO, Ill. – The Redbirds split the day with UIC, with a 6-2 victory in game one, while falling in a heartbreaking 10-9 game in the series finale. The Redbirds move to 13-26 on the season, and 7-7 in conference play.
Abby Knight led the offensive for the 'Birds going 4-for-6 on the day with five RBIs, including her second home run in two days. Delainey Bryant maintained her reaching base streak in both games, extending it to 23 consecutive games, which now ties her for the third longest streak in the country.
BIRD BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
UIC took the lead in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on two hits. The Redbirds wouldn't plate their first run of the game until the third inning. Delainey Bryant led off the inning with a walk, and was moved over on a sac-bunt from Kaili Chval. Abby Knight came up with one away and sent a two-run homer over the centerfield wall, her second home run in two days. But in the bottom of the inning, the Flames tied the game back up at two.
The game was quiet through the next three innings, before the 'Birds exploded for four runs on two hits and one UIC error in the top of the seventh. Addison Masching led off the game with a single to right field, before Bryant singled, and Chval walked to load the bases. Knight came up with a sac-fly to score another run, her second ball of the day that put the 'Birds on top. Adisyn Hopkins would then plate another in the same fashion, scoring Bryant. An error on the Flames would cause two more 'Birds to come across to take the 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
The Redbirds would hold on to take the 6-2 victory in the second game of the series, allowing for the rubber match game three.
BIRD BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
- Bella Wilkerson: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Addison Masching: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R
- Adisyn Hopkins: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Abby Knight: 1-for-3, RBI, R
Pitching Breakdown:
- Paige McLeod: (L, 8-9) 6.2 IP, 13 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 39 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both UIC and the 'Birds plated one run apiece to begin the game. The Redbirds scored in the top of the inning on an Abby Knight single which brought home Delainey Bryant  who reached on an error to begin the inning. In the top of the third, the Redbirds exploded for four runs on just two hits. Addison Masching drove in two on a single to center, while Kaili Chval drove in two more on a fielder's choice. In the fourth, UIC added one to make it a one run game, before adding another single run to tie the game at five.
In the top of the sixth, the Redbirds added four runs on 4 hits. Adisyn Hopkins drove in the first two runs on a single to right, before Bella Wilkerson hit a two-run bomb to left to extend the lead to 9-5. UIC cut the deficit to three in the bottom of the inning, chipping away with one run on a sac-fly.
Going into the bottom of the seventh, the 'Birds led 9-6, but fell in devastating walkoff fashion. UIC plated four runs on two hits and two Redbird errors to take the win and the series victory.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will return home next week to take on the Beacons of Valparaiso in a three-game series. The first game is slated for Friday, Apr. 12 at 5:00 p.m. CT.Â
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