Redbirds Split Games Friday in Maderia Beach

MADERIA BEACH, Fla. -- The Illinois State softball team split a pair of contests to open up the Make It Happen Games on Friday, as the Redbirds defeated Colgate, 3-2, before falling to Bowling Green, 13-4, in five innings at R.O.C. Park.

Timely hits paired with Paige McLeod's second complete game of the season guided the Redbirds to a close victory over the Raiders in game one. 

Bowling Green took the second game of the day, plating 11 runs in the first two innings and two more in the fifth to win by run rule. 

BIRD BITS (vs. Colgate)
Offensive Highlights:
Ella Boyer: 2-for-3, 1 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-2, BB

Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 3-2): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds took an early 2-0 lead when Tatum Wolford singled up the middle and then Atkinson delivered her second home run of the season over the centerfield fence. In the top of the fourth, Colgate had the bases loaded with zero outs, but a strong response from McLeod limited the Raiders to two runs on two hits. Ella Boyer came in clutch in the bottom half of the inning, hitting the go-ahead RBI single to score Morgan Calhoun from second. During her consistent seven innings in the circle, McLeod allowed two earned runs on six hits and fanned four batters.

BIRD BITS (vs. BGU)
Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Calhoun: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 1 R
Paige Rummans: 1-for-1, 2B, RBI, 1 R
Tatum Wolford: 0-for-1, 2 BB, 1 R

Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (L, 3-3): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
Gracelyn Kemp: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Hannah Meeks: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
An eight-run first inning by Bowling Green, which included four hits and five base on balls, created an early deficit Illinois State could not erase. The Falcons plated three more in the second frame to jump ahead, 11-0. The Redbirds continued to fight and produced offense in the top of the fifth, as Paige Rummans doubled to right field and Wolford drew a walk to spark the rally. Atkinson then lined an RBI single to right center to bring home the Redbirds' first run, and Calhoun capped the inning with a three-run bomb to left. Bowling Green, however, ended the game early in the bottom half after a two-run dinger put the Falcons ahead by nine.

ON DECK
The Redbirds will be back in action tomorrow morning against UAlbany at 9 a.m. CT and Siena at 11:30 a.m. CT.