TAMPA, Fla. --Â The Illinois State softball team dropped two games at the USF-Rawlings Tournament on Friday, as the Redbirds fell to Kansas, 13-5, in five innings before losing to No. 6 Florida, 7-0, in the nightcap.
ISU posted a late offensive push but came up short in against Kansas in game one on Friday. The Redbirds scored in the first and added four runs in the fifth before the game concluded via run rule.
The Redbirds fell to top-10 Florida in the second game of the day. After a scoreless first inning, the Gators scored in the next four frames and held the Redbirds to one hit to secure the win.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Kansas)
Offensive Highlights:
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, 1 BB
Morgan Calhoun: 1-for-2, RBI, 1 BB
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3, RBI, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meeks (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Gracelyn Kemp: 0.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Jayhawks struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. ISU responded with one run in the bottom half when Wolford scored on a passed ball. The score remained 2-1 until the Kansas offense totaled 10 runs on 10 hits, including a three-run dinger, in the fourth frame. The Jayhawks extended their lead with a solo home run in the fifth. The Birds continued to battle, plating four runs in the bottom of the fifth behind RBI singles from sophomore Tatum Wolford, senior Bella Atkinson and freshman Morgan Calhoun, but the rally fell short as the game ended via run rule, 13-5.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Florida)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3
Morgan Calhoun: 0-for-2, 1 BB
Taylor Liebelt: 0-for-1, 1 BB, HBP
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (L, 1-1): 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Hannah Meshnick: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida scored two runs in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to earn a 7-0 victory over ISU. Senior Bella Atkinson recorded the Redbirds' lone hit in the seventh frame, while freshman Taylor Liebelt reached base twice and freshman Morgan Calhoun also walked. The Redbirds struck out 11 times in the contest.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will wrap up play at the USF-Rawlings Tournament on Saturday at 8 a.m. CT against Michigan.
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