PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State offense erupted in the second game of a Friday afternoon split, as the Birds scored nine runs in their final regular-season series of the season, as Birds made the short trek to OSF Healthcare Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
The Redbirds won the second game of the series 9-2, after falling in the opener 9-2. With the first-day split, Illinois State goes to 26-20 on the season, and 15-12 in MVC play.
BIRD BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-4, 1 R
Morgan Calhoun: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Lauren Flowers: 2-for-3
Tatum Wolford: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R
Ella Boyer: 1-for-3, 2B
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (L, 17-5): 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Hannah Meshnick: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds got four hits from their first five at-bats, as ISU struck first when Morgan Calhoun hit a two-run single, chasing home Bella Atkinson and Tatum Wolford, pushing the Redbirds to a 2-0 lead.
The hosts answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, and another in the bottom of the fourth to have the Braves take their first lead of the game before the Braves extended their lead to four runs later that inning with a three-run double. The Braves added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, two from a two-run home run, securing the 9-2 Bradley victory.
BIRD BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
Hannah Meeks: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB
Lauren Flowers: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Morgan Calhoun: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
Julia Larson: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB
Tatum Wolford: 0-for-3, RBI, Sacrifice Fly
Bella Atkinson: 0-for-3, 2 R, BB
Ava Boyer: 1-for-3, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
Gracelyn Kemp (W, 3-4): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 4 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second consecutive game, the Redbirds got off to a fast start, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, the first two on a sacrifice fly and bunt single, before Hannah Meeks hit her eighth home run of the season, a three-run blast to give ISU a 5-0 lead in the top half of the opening inning.
After Bradley cut into the Redbird lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, the Redbirds used cunning baserunning to score from second on an infield error, putting the margin back at five. The Birds extended their lead at the top of the fourth inning with Morgan Calhoun's seventh home run of the season over the left field wall before Bradley responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the gap to 7-2.
Lauren Flowers pushed the lead to seven with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, scoring herself and Bella Atkinson for the final runs of the contest.
ON DECK
The Redbirds close out the 2026 regular season tomorrow afternoon with a 2 p.m. first pitch, setting the stage for the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on May 6-9 in Carbondale, Illinois.
