SAN JOSE, Calif. --Â The Illinois State softball team earned two more wins on Saturday at the Silicon Valley Invitational, taking down Utah, 6-5, in 10 innings before shutting down San Jose State, 11-5, in the nightcap at Spartan Softball Complex.
It was a back-and-forth battle in game one, as the Redbirds grinded out a victory over Utah in their first extra inning contest of the season. Senior Hannah Meshnick pitched the final three innings to earn the win, and sophomore Tatum Wolford slugged a double to bring around the go-ahead run in the 10th frame.
In game two, ISU got its second win against San Jose State in as many days, taking down the tournament host to extend the Birds' winning streak to four. Four Redbirds tallied multi-hit games, including freshman Morgan Calhoun, who went a flawless 3-for-3 at the plate, highlighted by a triple, her first career home run and five RBIs. Sophomore Gracelyn Kemp earned her first win in the circle this season, striking out a career-high six batters.
BIRD BITS (vs. Utah)
Offensive Highlights:
Taylor Liebelt: 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Ella Boyer: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Morgan Calhoun: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Lauren Flowers: 0-for-1, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Gracelyn Kemp: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Hannah Meeks: 2.0 IP, 2 b
Paige McLeod: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Hannah Meshnick (W, 3-1): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State struck first when Wolford singled and later scored on an RBI double from Calhoun. Utah answered and took a 2–1 lead in the second. The Redbirds responded in the fourth, as freshman Taylor Liebelt scored on a passed ball to even the game, but the Utes regained the advantage in the bottom half. In the sixth, junior Ella Boyer delivered a clutch RBI double to score sophomore Marissa Moffett and tie the game at three. Both teams traded scoreless frames from there, forcing extra innings.
ISU grabbed a 4–3 edge in the ninth on an RBI groundout by freshman Lauren Flowers that brought Liebelt home, but Utah answered in the bottom half to keep the game going. In the 10th, the Redbirds delivered the decisive blow, plating two runs, one on an RBI double from Wolford and one on an error, to seal the 6-4 victory.
BIRD BITS (at SJSU)
Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Calhoun: 3-for-3, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R
Julia Larson: 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, 3 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1K
Gracelyn Kemp (1-0): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
After San Jose State capitalized on a first-inning error to take a 2-0 lead, Illinois State answered in the third. Senior Bella Atkinson doubled home Wolford to put the Redbirds on the board, and Calhoun followed by launching a two-run homer to right center to give ISU a 3–2 edge.
The Spartans briefly took a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the third, but the Redbirds responded with their biggest inning of the season in the fourth. ISU sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on six hits, highlighted by RBI singles from junior Julia Larson, Wolford and Atkinson, a two-run triple off the bat of Calhoun and a sacrifice fly from Liebelt.
The Redbirds added two more insurance runs in the fifth on an Atkinson RBI double and a Calhoun sacrifice fly. In the circle, Kemp allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of work.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will close the Silicon Valley Invitational tomorrow in Santa Clara, Calif., against California at noon CT.
