CHICAGO — Illinois State softball erupted for 17 runs on 17 hits to cruise past UIC, 17-2, in five innings during the series opener before claiming the doubleheader sweep with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap on Wednesday at Flames Field.
The 17-run outburst in game one marked the Redbirds' highest scoring total in a true road game since April 29, 2017, at Evansville. Illinois State's offensive explosion also featured at least five players with multiple RBIs for the first time since May 1, 2022, and three Redbirds with three or more RBIs for the first time since March 24, 2023, both against Valparaiso.
BIRD BITS (Game 1 at UIC)
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-2, 2 BB, 3 R
Julia Larson: 2-for-2, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 3 R
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 R
Morgan Calhoun: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R
Hannah Meeks: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 R
Ava Boyer: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 R
Ella Boyer: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 15-3): 5.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State struck first in the opening inning when Morgan Calhoun delivered a two-run double to left center, scoring Tatum Wolford and Julia Larson for an early 2-0 lead.
The Redbirds added another run in the second as Larson singled and advanced on a UIC error, allowing Ava Boyer to score. Illinois State then broke the game open in the third inning with six runs. Ella Boyer started the rally with a two-run single, followed by a two-run double from Larson and a two-run single by Bella Atkinson to make it 9-0.
The offensive onslaught continued in the fourth inning, as the Redbirds plated eight more runs. RBI walks from Larson and Atkinson, a run-scoring single by Calhoun, an RBI double from Flowers, an RBI single by Hannah Meeks and a two-run single from Ava Boyer pushed the advantage to 17.
UIC scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Paige McLeod closed out the contest in the fifth to secure her seventh complete game and 15th victory this season.
BIRD BITS (Game 2 at UIC)
Offensive Highlights:
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-3, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R
Julia Larson: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-4, 1 R
Morgan Calhoun: 1-for-3, 1 R
Hannah Meshnick: 1-for-3, 1 R
Lauren Flowers: 1-for-3, 2B
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (W, 5-7): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
UIC opened the scoring with an RBI single in the opening inning, but ISU quickly evened the score in the second when Meeks launched a solo home run to right center. The Redbirds pulled ahead with two runs in the sixth inning and added two more insurance runs in the seventh, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Larson.
Hannah Meshnick held the Flames to a single run on six hits for her second complete-game outing this season.
ON DECK
The Redbirds are back home this weekend for a three-game conference series against Indiana State. Friday's doubleheader is set for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch at Marian Kneer Stadium.
On Saturday, 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. All three games 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).
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