SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Illinois State softball team fell to tournament host Santa Clara, 5-2, to open the Silicon Valley Invitational on Thursday evening at SCU Softball Stadium.
Santa Clara took the lead early and never relinquished it, as Illinois State recorded four hits and left six runners on base in the loss. Senior Bella Atkinson led the Redbird offense with two doubles, while sophomore Paige McLeod made her third start in the circle this season and recorded three strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
BIRD BITS (at Santa Clara)
Offensive Highlights:Â
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 1 R
Taylor Liebelt: 1-for-3, RBI
Lexi Brinkman: 1-for-1
Saveea Freeland: 0-for-1, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (L, 1-2): 5.2 IP, 8Â H, 5Â R, 1Â BB, 3Â K
Hannah Meeks: 0.1 IP, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Broncos started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, plating three runs on a 2 RBI double and an RBI base hit to right field.The Redbirds were held without a hit through the first three innings before Atkinson sparked the offense with a leadoff double to left in the fourth. Freshman Morgan Calhoun moved Atkinson to third on a ball put in play, and Taylor Liebelt followed with an infield single to the shortstop to bring home ISU's first run.
Atkinson again set the tone in the sixth with her second extra base hit of the contest. Calhoun lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to move her into scoring position, but Illinois State could not push the run across. The Broncos responded in the home half of the inning with two unearned runs to extend their lead to 5-1. The Redbirds kept pressure on in the seventh, as freshman Lexi Brinkman singled up the middle and came around to score on an RBI from sophomore Saveea Freeland, but the comeback attempt came up short.
ON DECK
The Birds will continue action tomorrow in San Jose, Calif., facing UC-Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. CT followed by a  p.m. CT matchup against host San Jose State at the Spartan Softball Complex. The nightcap against the Spartans will stream live here.
