PEORIA, Ill. – The I-74 rivalry between Illinois State and Bradley re-ignited on Tuesday, as the Redbirds and Braves played the first of three midweek contests to make up their annual Missouri Valley Conference series as travel partners. With the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning, senior Bella Wilkerson broke the game open with a two-out, bases loaded double to left field to propel the Redbirds (8-23, 2-5 MVC) to a 6-3 win over the Braves (14-17, 4-3 MVC) at OSF Healthcare Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
BIRDS BITS (vs. Bradley)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Wilkerson: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Delainey Bryant: 2-for-4, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI
Adisyn Hopkins: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Hannah Meshnick (W, 4-9): 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds got out to an early lead with a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single to center field by Bella Atkinson to make it 1-0. ISU would then tack on two more runs in the top of the third inning, when Bryant scored on a fielder's choice by Knight and Julia Larson scored on an RBI single by Tatum Wolford to bring the lead to 3-0. Bradley would chip away at that lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and would eventually tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run triple. The score would remain tied until the top of the seventh, when Wilkerson came to bat with two outs and the bases loaded and drilled a double to left field to clear the bases and give the Redbirds a 6-3 lead. Meshnick would then shut down the Braves in the bottom of the seventh to give the Redbirds their first road conference win on the season.
ON DECK
The Redbirds host UIC for a three-game conference series beginning on Friday at Marian Kneer Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
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