Redbirds Fall To Middle Tennessee, Ball State On Day Two

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Illinois State wrapped up action at the Middle Tennessee Tournament on Saturday, as the Redbirds dropped a 6-3 decision to the hosts in the first game of the day and then suffered a 10-1 defeat at the hands of Ball State in the second contest.

BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Middle Tennessee)

Offensive Highlights: 
Abby Knight: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Adisyn Hopkins: 2-for-3, 1 BB
Delainey Bryant: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Addison Masching: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI

Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (L, 0-5): 4.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Hannah Meeks: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State got out to an early lead thanks to an RBI single by Ella Boyer in the top of the first inning to make it 1-0. The two squads went scoreless over the next three innings, before Middle Tennessee took a 5-1 lead after a five-run bottom of the fifth inning. The Redbirds would get a pair of runs back on an RBI single from Masching and an RBI double by Bryant in the top half of the sixth inning to trim the MTSU lead to 5-3. The Blue Raiders tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth via a home run and the Redbirds were held scoreless in the top of the seventh as MTSU picked up the 6-3 victory.

BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Ball State)

Offensive Highlights: 
Adisyn Hopkins: 1-for-3, 1 R, 
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3
Abby Knight: 1-for-3
Bella Wilkerson: 1-for-1

Pitching Breakdown:
Gracelyn Kemp (L, 0-1): 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Hannah Meshnick: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB
Paige McLeod: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
Ball State took a 3-0 lead on four hits and an error in the top of the second inning, before the Redbirds got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Adisyn Hopkins scored on a fielder's choice. The Cardinals then extended the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning, before they plated six runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning to pick up the six-inning win, 10-1.

ON DECK
Illinois State continues its Tennessee trip with a Sunday game in Nashville, when the Redbirds square off against Ohio at 10 a.m. as part of the Lipscomb Purple/Gold Challenge.

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