CARBONDALE, Ill. –  No. 5 seed Illinois State softball won a 7-6 thriller over No. 4 seed Northern Iowa in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Wednesday at Dr. Charlotte West Stadium.
After trailing, 3-0, the Redbirds used a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-out, two-strike grand slam from Tatum Wolford, to claim their ninth come from behind victory this season.
BIRD BITS (vs. No. 4 UNI)
Offensive Highlights:
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-4, Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 1 R
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
Ava Boyer: 1-for-4, 2B, R
Ella Boyer: 2-for-3, 2 R
Julia Larson: 1-for-3, BB, R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 19-5): 6.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Hannah Meshnick (Save, 6): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI opened the scoring in the second inning, capitalizing on a Redbird error before adding a two-run single to right center. The Panthers tacked on another run in the bottom of the third on an RBI blooper to left.
The Panthers threatened in the fourth with runners on second and third and one out, but Paige McLeod forced two straight popups to escape the jam and keep the Redbirds within three.
Ava Boyer led off the fifth with a double to the left-field wall. Ella Boyer singled over the shortstop's head to move her sister to third, and Paige Rummans posted a pinch-hit RBI sacrifice fly to get the Redbirds on the board.
Lauren Flowers kept the rally going with a single up the middle before a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Bella Atkinson capped off the fifth inning with an RBI single to bring the Redbirds within one.
The Panthers got one back in the bottom half with a solo homer to go ahead, 4-2. T
The Redbirds never stopped fighting, as Ella Boyer and Flowers both reached on singles, and Morgan Calhoun reached on an error to load the bases with two outs in the seventh . Down to her final strike, Tatum Wolford lifted a grand slam over the left field wall to put the Redbirds ahead, 6-4. Julia Larson singled and later came around to score after Hannah Meeks ripped an RBI single up the middle to push the Birds ahead by three.
The Panthers kept the Redbird defense on their heels, slugging two solo home runs to come within one. But, Hannah Meshnick, the program's all-time saves leader, came in with two outs and the winning run at the plate and delivered, forcing a pop out to third to earn her sixth save this season and 13th of her career.
Paige McLeod had a strong start in the circle, holding the nation's team leader in walks without a free bag and striking out five through 6.2 innings of work.
ON DECK
The Redbirds advance to the quarterfinal round against regular season MVC champion and No. 1 seed Belmont. First pitch is set for noon CT tomorrow at Dr. Charlotte West Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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