SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Illinois State softball team battled its way to a pair of hard-fought victories Friday at the Silicon Valley Invitational, sweeping the day with a 6–5 win over UC-Santa Barbara before taking down host San Jose State, 2–1, in the nightcap at Spartan Softball Complex.
Illinois State took the lead early in both games and never gave it up, with senior Hannah Meshnick claiming the win in the circle and going 3-for-4 with a triple in game one. Against the Spartans, sophomore Paige McLeod pitched six innings and struck out four, while junior Ella Boyer's RBI single at the plate proved to be the difference.
BIRD BITS (vs. UCSB)
Offensive Highlights:
Hannah Meshnick: 3-for-4, 3B, RBI, 1 R
Taylor Liebelt: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (W, 2-1): 5.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Hannah Meeks: 0.2 IP, 1 K
Paige McLeod (S): 0.2 IP
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbird offense struck first, as junior Julia Larson drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored after singles from Bella Atkinson, Morgan Calhoun and Meshnick. Senior Hannah Meeks then drew a bases load walk to make it 2-0. ISU plated another run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second inning. Then, in the third, freshman Taylor Liebelt added to the lead with a two-run bomb to left field, the first of her career. Meeks kept the offense rolling with a double, and junior Ava Boyer later singled her home to put the Redbirds ahead, 6-0. UCSB clawed its way back, plating five in the sixth inning, but Meeks and McLeod, who earned the save, recorded the last four outs to clinch the 6-5 victory.
BIRD BITS (at SJSU)
Offensive Highlights:
Ella Boyer: 1-for-3, RBI
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-2, 3B, BB, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 2-2): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Hannah Meshnick (S): 1.0 IP, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Larson led off the offense with a bunt single in the first and later came around to score on a Spartan throwing error to make it 1–0. The Redbirds added what proved to be the game-winning run in the second, as Meeks tripled to right and Ella Boyer followed with an RBI single to push the advantage to 2–0. San Jose State answered with a run in the fourth on an RBI triple, but McLeod worked six strong innings to earn the win. Meshnick closed the door in the seventh, stranding the tying run on second to secure the save and seal the victory.
ON DECK
The Birds will continue action tomorrow in San Jose, Calif., facing Utah at 2 p.m. CT followed by another matchup against host San Jose State at 4:30 p.m. at Spartan Softball Complex.
