CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --Â Illinois State softball split with Northern Iowa in the series-opening doubleheader, taking game one, 8-6, in eight innings before falling, 10-5, in the nightcap on Friday at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
Behind four Redbirds with multiple hits and a strong combined outing in the circle from Paige McLeod and Hannah Meshnick, Illinois State secured a thrilling game one victory. In game two, the Redbirds trailed early and couldn't complete the comeback despite a five-run sixth inning.
BIRD BITS (Game 1 vs. UNI)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-5, Grand Slam, 2B, 4 RBI, 1 R
Julia Larson: 2-for-5, 2 R
Hannah Meeks: 2-for-4
Ella Boyer: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Lauren Flowers: 2-for-4, BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-4, BB, 1 R
Bailah Bognar: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 12-3): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Hannah Meshnick (S, 4): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds struck first in the second inning. Lauren Flowers started the frame with a leadoff walk, Ava Boyer and Hannah Meeks followed with singles and Ella Boyer hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to bring the first run home. Meeks then attempted to steal second and forced the defense into a rundown, allowing Ava Boyer to score from third.
Bailah Bognar continued the rally with a walk before Tatum Wolford and Julia Larson recorded back-to-back singles to load the bases once again. Bella Atkinson came up big, slugging a grand slam over the right field wall to give the Redbirds' a 6-0 edge.
The Panthers threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but McLeod forced a groundout to escape the bases loaded jam. In the fifth, UNI got on the scoreboard with a two-run shot to center, trimming the Illinois State lead to four. The Panthers creeped within one with a two-out three-run home run and then tied the game at six on a Redbird error. Illinois State responded in the eighth. Bognar walked for the second time and ended up scoring the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from Morgan Calhoun. Lauren Flowers added an insurance run with a two-out RBI single to make it 8-6.
Hannah Meshnick entered the circle in the home half of the eighth and struck out three batters to earn her MVC-leading fourth save this season.
BIRD BITS (Game 2 vs. UNI)
Offensive Highlights:
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-2, 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-4, 1 R
Ella Boyer: 0-for-1, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Ava Boyer: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 1 R
Morgan Calhoun: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (L, 4-6): 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Gracelyn Kemp: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third inning after two home runs and two RBI singles. The Panthers extended their lead to seven with a solo shot in the fourth. Meeks doubled to center in the fifth to break the Panther's no-hitter but failed to score.
The Redbirds showed life in the sixth, loading the bases after singles from Larson and Atkinson and a base on balls by Calhoun. Flowers then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right to put Illinois State on the board. Meeks drew a walk to bring in the second run, and then Ella Boyer worked a 10-pitch at bat that ended in an RBI walk to cut the Redbirds' deficit to four. Wolford continued the rally with a two-RBI single to make the score 7-5.
The Panthers responded in the bottom half of the sixth, adding three runs to regain a five-run advantage. Calhoun drew her third walk of the game to put a base runner on in the seventh, but that was all for the Redbirds as they dropped game two.Â
ON DECK
The Redbirds will try for the series win against UNI tomorrow, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB), Instagram (@redbirdsoftball) and Facebook (Illinois State Redbird Softball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
