NORMAL, Ill. — A milestone moment highlighted a successful day for Illinois State softball, as head coach Tina Kramos earned her 100th career win in a 5-2 victory over Indiana State in game one before the Redbirds finished off a doubleheader sweep at Marian Kneer Stadium on Friday.
With the series-opening victory, Kramos became one of only five current Missouri Valley Conference coaches to reach 100 career wins. Illinois State carried that momentum into a 5-3 win in game two, with all five runs coming on three Redbird homers.
BIRD BITS (Game 1 vs. INS)
Hannah Meeks: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Bailah Bognar: 2-for-2, 1 BB
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-3, HR. 2 RBI, 1 R
Ava Boyer: 1-for-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Julia Larson: 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 16-3): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State set the tone immediately in the first inning when Tatum Wolford launched a solo home run to left center. The offense continued to build momentum in the second as Julia Larson delivered an RBI single to score Ava Boyer.
The Redbirds added another run in the third when Ava Boyer singled up the middle to plate Hannah Meeks, extending the advantage to three. Illinois State created further separation in the fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Meeks and a sacrifice fly by Wolford that brought home pinch runner Marissa Moffett.
Indiana State mounted a late push in the seventh, capitalizing on a fielder's choice and a Redbird throwing error to score two runs. Paige McLeod remained composed in the circle, matching her career-high with eight strikeouts and closing out the complete-game performance to secure the milestone victory for Kramos.
BIRD BITS (Game 2 vs. INS)
Offensive Highlights:
Hannah Meeks: 2-for-3, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Lauren Flowers: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Morgan Calhoun: 1-for-3, 1 R
Julia Larson: 1-for-4, 1 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (W, 6-7): 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Paige McLeod (Save, 3): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening frame, Illinois State broke through in the second inning when Meeks powered a solo home run to right field. Indiana State answered in the third with an unearned run, but the Redbirds quickly regained control as Lauren Flowers delivered a two-run homer, the first of the freshman's career, in the bottom half the inning.
Illinois State continued to build its cushion in the fourth when Bella Atkinson blasted a two-run homer to left. With that, Atkinson became the 22nd individual player in program history to join the 40-40 club, amassing over 40 hits and 40 RBIs in a single season.
The Sycamores chipped away with RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings, tightening the contest late.
Hannah Meshnick handled the majority of the work in the circle, striking out three batters, before McLeod entered in the seventh to record the final two outs and earn the save, sealing the doubleheader sweep.
ON DECK
Tomorrow will be another historic day for the softball program and the University, as Illinois State Athletics will officially dedicate the softball field inside Marian Kneer Stadium as Melinda Fischer Field, honoring the Hall of Fame career of former Redbird head coach Melinda Fischer.
The dedication ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. CT, prior to Illinois State's series finale against the Sycamores, which is slated for 2 p.m. CT. The field dedication, along with the series finale, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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