NORMAL, Ill. --Â The Illinois State softball team split its doubleheader against Southern Illinois on Friday, taking game one, 4-0, before dropping the nightcap, 9-0, in five innings at Marian Kneer Stadium.
The Redbirds earned their fourth shutout win of the season and their first against Southern Illinois since 2018 in game one. The Salukis responded with a shutout of their own in game two, posting a four-run third inning en route to the 9-0 victory.
BIRD BITS (Game 1 vs. SIU)
Offensive Highlights:
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-2, 2 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-2
Ella Boyer: 1-for-3, HR. 1 RBI, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 10-3): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds opened the scoring in the third inning, taking advantage of a Saluki error before Morgan Calhoun added an RBI groundout to make it 2–0. Ella Boyer extended the lead with a solo home run in the fourth, her first of the season, before Bella Atkinson drove in Tatum Wolford on an RBI single in the fifth. Illinois State recorded seven hits, led by Wolford's two-hit performance, while Paige McLeod tossed a complete-game shutout to earn her 10th win of the season.
BIRD BITS (Game 2 vs. SIU)
Offensive Highlights:
Hannah Meeks: 0-for-1, 1 BB
Lauren Flowers: 1-for-1, 2B
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (L, 4-5): 2.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
Hannah Meeks: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Salukis opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Southern Illinois broke the game open with four runs in the third, highlighted by a solo home run. The Salukis added two more runs in the fourth on another home run and a sacrifice fly, before tacking on a final run in the fifth on an RBI double. Illinois State was limited to one hit, a double by Lauren Flowers in the fifth, while Hannah Meshnick and Hannah Meeks combined in the circle for the Redbirds.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will close the three-game series against the Salukis tomorrow, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. CT at Marian Kneer Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
