Redbirds Travel to Champaign for Midweek Matchup

ON DECK

Illinois State softball travels to Champaign, Ill., for a single game against the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. CT at Eichelberger Field.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois State dropped its three-game series against Northern Iowa over the weekend. The Redbirds won, 8-6, in game one behind a three-hit, four-RBI day from Bella Atkinson. ISU then lost 10-5 and 24-16 in the final two games against the Panthers.

HIGH-SCORING SLUGFEST

The series rubber match against UNI was more like a football game, with 40 runs and 35 hits combined between the Panthers and Redbirds.

• UNI hit eight home runs en route to the 24-16 six-inning victory.

• Despite the Redbirds explosive offensive start and an early 13-0 lead, they could not withstand a relentless comeback from the Panthers.

• Twenty-four runs is the most scored by a Redbird opponent in a single game in program history.

• The Redbirds totaled a season-high nine extra base hits, including two homers and seven doubles.

FLOWERS IN FULL BLOOM

Freshman Lauren Flowers posted a career-high performance in the series finale against UNI.

• She went 3-for-3 with two doubles and six RBIs.

• She is the first Redbird to record six RBIs in a single game since Alyssa Wiebel versus NC State on Feb. 8, 2019.

• Over her three starts in right field versus the Panthers, Flowers batted .500 with a team-high eight RBIs.

ISN'T IT GRAND

• The Redbirds slugged two grand slams this past weekend against the Panthers, as Bella Atkinson took one over the right field wall in the 8-6 game one win, and Hannah Meeks hit her second granny of the season in the high-scoring series finale.

• The first grand slam of the season came off the bat of junior Hannah Meeks. Leading UMass, 2-0, with one out in the top of the third, Meeks smashed a full count grand slam to deep right field.

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