NORMAL, Ill. -- Illinois State softball battled back-and-forth with Southern Illinois in a tightly contested series finale that came down to the final at-bat on Saturday at Marian Kneer Stadium. Despite multiple momentum swings, the Redbirds stayed composed, as a walk-off RBI single from Lauren Flowers sealed a dramatic 5–4 victory and the series win over the Salukis.
With the victory, the Redbirds improved to 17-9 on the season and 7-2 in conference play.
BIRD BITS (Game 3 vs. SIU)
Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Calhoun: 2-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Lauren Flowers: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-3, 2 R
Bailah Bognar: 0-for-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Julia Larson: 0-for-3, BB, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 11-3): 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Gracelyn Kemp: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
Southern Illinois threatened early with a leadoff walk and a single in the first inning, but Paige McLeod settled in, striking out the next two batters before inducing a flyout to escape the jam. Illinois State answered in the bottom half, taking a 1–0 lead when Morgan Calhoun singled home Julia Larson.
The Salukis continued to apply pressure in the second, putting runners on second and third with one out, but McLeod worked out of trouble again with a groundout and a strikeout. Southern Illinois eventually broke through in the fourth, tying the game on an RBI single.
After several scoreless innings, the Salukis grabbed a 2–1 lead with a solo home run to left. The Redbirds responded in the sixth, reclaiming the lead behind an RBI single from Ava Boyer and an RBI walk by Bailah Bognar.
Needing just three outs to secure the win, Illinois State saw the lead slip away as Southern Illinois launched a two-run homer in the seventh to go up 4–3. But the Redbirds refused to back down. Taking advantage of a Saluki error in the bottom of the inning, Illinois State rallied, and Flowers delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off RBI single to clinch the series victory.
McLeod earned her second win of the series, allowing two earned runs while tying her season high with five strikeouts.
ON DECK
The Redbirds are on the road next weekend for a three-game series against Northern Iowa, with first pitch set for Noon CT on Friday.
