CARBONDALE, Ill. –  No. 5 seed Illinois State softball survived and advanced on Thursday, downing No. 4 seed Northern Iowa, 7-6, at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships at Charlotte West Stadium.
Timely hitting and a joint effort in the circle from Paige McLeod and Hannah Meshnick propelled the Redbirds to victory against the Panthers. McLeod earned her 20th win of the season, while Meshnick tied the single-season program record with her seventh save this year.
BIRD BITS (vs. #4 UNI)
Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Calhoun: 2-for-4, 3 RBI
Ella Boyer: 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, R
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 R
Lauren Flowers: 1-for-4, R
Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod (W, 20-5): 3.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Hannah Meshnick (Save, 7): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds opened the scoring in the first inning when Tatum Wolford lined an RBI single to left field to score Bella Atkinson and give Illinois State an early 1-0 lead.
Northern Iowa answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on a Redbird error to tie the game before delivering a two-run single through the right side to put the Panthers ahead, 3-1.
Illinois State responded in the second inning as Ella Boyer crushed a two-run homer to left field, scoring Ava Boyer and evening the score at 3-3. The Panthers regained the lead later in the inning on an RBI double.
The Redbirds tied the game again in the third when Morgan Calhoun singled to right field to bring home Wolford.
Illinois State took control in the fifth inning after Calhoun came through once more with a two-run single to left-center field, scoring Marissa Moffett and Wolford to give the Redbirds a 6-4 advantage.
The Redbirds added an insurance run in the sixth when Atkinson doubled to right-center field to plate Lauren Flowers.
Northern Iowa threatened in the bottom of the sixth, ripping a two-run double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to one.
The Panthers mounted one final rally in the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but Illinois State sealed the win with a game-ending double play. Hannah Meshnick snagged a line drive in the circle and fired to Atkinson at third, where she stepped on the bag to complete the double play and secure the 7-6 victory.
ON DECK
The Redbirds continue play at the MVC Tournament tomorrow with an elimination game against No. 2 seed Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. CT.
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