EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Paige McLeod picked up two wins in the circle to lead the Illinois State softball team to a conference-opening doubleheader sweep over the Evansville Purple Aces on Friday.
Winning 3-2 in game one and 6-5 in nine innings in the nightcap, the Redbirds improved to 6-0 in one-run games, 2-0 in the MVC and 12-6 overall on the season.
BIRD BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Calhoun: 3-for-4, 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, 1 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 1 RBI
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-3, BB, 1 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 6-2): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Hannah Meshnick (Save): 1.0 IP, 1 H,
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tatum Wolford sparked the Redbird offense with a leadoff double to right center to begin the game. After advancing to third on a sacrifice fly by Julia Larson, Wolford came home on a triple from Morgan Calhoun. Hannah Meeks followed with an RBI single through the right side, scoring Calhoun and giving the Redbirds an early 2–0 lead in the first inning.
Evansville responded with a run in the bottom of the first and evened the score at two in the bottom of the second.
Illinois State regained the lead in the top of the third. Calhoun singled, while Meeks and Ella Boyer each worked walks to load the bases. Ava Boyer then stepped to the plate and battled through a seven-pitch at-bat to draw an RBI walk, bringing home what proved to be the game-winning run.
In the circle, McLeod delivered a strong performance, allowing two earned runs on five hits across six innings of work. Hannah Meshnick entered in the bottom of the seventh and recorded her third save of the season, striking out two to secure the 3-2 victory.
BIRD BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB 2 R
Hannah Meshnick: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1K
Gracelyn Kemp: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Paige McLeod (W, 7-2): 4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds put up a five spot in the first inning behind a two RBI single from Meeks and a three-run homer to left field by Meshnick, her second long ball this season.
Evansville plated one run in the home half of the first, two more in the third and two more in the sixth while holding the Redbirds scoreless to knot the game at five. Both squads 1-2-3 in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, the Purple Aces had the winning run on third with two outs, but McLeod earned a strikeout to extend the game. Bella Atkinson came through with an RBI double to left center, scoring Wolford, who also doubled earlier in the inning.
Evansville threatened again in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third and one out, but McLeod forced a groundout and a flyout to clinch the Redbirds' doubleheader sweep.
Meshnick started in the circle and gave up three earned runs in 3.2 innings. Gracelyn Kemp was the first out of the bullpen, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing one earned run. McLeod then came in for the final four innings and picked up her second win of the day.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will try for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon, with game three against the Purple Aces is slated for 2 p.m. CT at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
