NORMAL, Ill. -- Illinois State softball split its doubleheader against Valparaiso, taking game one, 9-2, before falling, 7-1, in the nightcap that was called due to weather on Friday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Behind a two-home run, six-RBI game one from Bella Atkinson, the Redbirds gained an early lead and ran away with their 20th victory of the season. The Redbirds have now won at least 20 games in five straight seasons.
Battling multiple weather delays, the Redbirds fell in game two, snapping their 20-game win streak over the Beacons.
BIRD BITS (Game 1 vs. Valpo)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 3 R
Julia Larson: 2-for-3, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 14-3): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Valparaiso got on the board with a two run homer in the first. The Redbirds answered immediately in the bottom half, as Atkinson slugged a three-run homer to take the lead. Illinois State added four more in the second frame. Ava Boyer stole home, Julia Larson did her job with an RBI groundout and Atkinson smashed her second long ball of the day to make it 7-2.
The Redbirds tacked on another run in the fourth, as Larson singled to bring home Wolford, who doubled down the left field line earlier in the inning. Illinois State's ninth and final run came in the sixth when Larson hit another RBI single, scoring Atkinson.
Paige McLeod posted her sixth complete game of the season against the Beacons, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
BIRD BITS (Game 2 vs. Valpo)
Offensive Highlights:
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-3, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-3, 2B
Pitching Breakdown:
Gracelyn Kemp (L, 2-1): 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Hannah Meshnick: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Valpo recorded three hits and took advantage of a Redbird error to plate two in the first. The Redbirds got one run back in the home half of the inning, capitalizing on two Valpo errors. The Beacons executed back-to-back sacrifice bunts in the fourth to increase their lead to 4-1.
Shortly after the fifth inning began, the game was suspended due to lightning in the area. Following an hour stoppage, Valpo scored two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to jump ahead, 7-1.
The Redbirds had the bases loaded with zero outs in the bottom of the seventh when another lightning delay was issued. After a couple hour delay, which included a tornado warning, the game was officially called, and the umpires deemed the game shall revert to the last completed inning for the final score.
ON DECK
The Redbirds travel to Chicago on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader against Illinois-Chicago. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT at Flames Field.
