NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team dropped its home opener against Iowa, 6-3, on Tuesday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Illinois State tried to rally after an early deficit but couldn't overcome Iowa's explosive first two innings. With the loss, the Redbirds fell to 12-8 on the season.
BIRD BITS (vs. Iowa)
Offensive Highlights:
Julia Larson: 2-for-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Hannah Meeks: 0-for-2, 2 HBP, 1 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (L, 4-4): 1.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB. 0 K
Hannah Meeks: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Gracelyn Kemp: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Paige McLeod: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Iowa jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning behind a solo homer and a three-run bomb. The Hawkeyes added another two-run long ball in the second inning to extend the lead to 6–0. The Redbirds never quit and began to chip away in the third when Julia Larson drove in Marissa Moffett with a sacrifice fly. The Redbirds added single runs in the fourth and fifth on an RBI single from Ava Boyer and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch drawn by Hannah Meeks. Despite the late push, the Redbirds managed just four hits as Iowa held on for the victory.
ON DECK
The Redbirds are back home this weekend, hosting the Drake Bulldogs in a three-game conference series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on Friday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
