NORMAL, Ill. – With the treat of inclement weather threatening the third and final game of the series on Saturday, Illinois State and Missouri State pivoted to a Friday doubleheader to complete their three-game set at Marian Kneer Stadium. The Redbirds (18-26, 11-8 MVC) picked up a win in game one by a score of 6-2 to secure the series win, before the Bears (14-30, 12-9 MVC) secured an 8-2 win in game two split the doubleheader.

BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Missouri State)

Offensive Highlights: 
Abby Knight: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 1-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Addison Masching: 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Delainey Bryant: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 3B

Pitching Breakdown:
Paige McLeod: (W, 3-9): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, the Redbirds jumped out to an early lead thanks to a big 3-run blast off the bat of Atkinson, who launched her first home run as a Redbird over the left center field wall to put the Redbirds up 3-0 early. ISU would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single down the left field line by Masching that moved the score to 5-0. The Bears got a run in the top of the fifth and sixth inning to cut the ISU lead to 5-2, but the Redbirds would answer with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single up the middle by Knight that made the score 6-2. McLeod would slam the door in the seventh and record the win for the Redbirds, their seventh in a row.

BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Missouri State)

Offensive Highlights: 
Delainey Bryant: 2-for-4
Julia Larson: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Abby Knight: 1-for-3, 1 BB

Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meeks (L, 6-5): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Hannah Meshnick: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Paige McLeod: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was scoreless through four innings, with both starters throwing well to start the second game of the twin bill. The Bears would be the first to score, as they scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning and then added a run in the top of the sixth to make the score 4-0. The Redbirds would answer with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single by Larson to cut the Missouri State lead in half at 4-2. However, the Bears would put up four runs in the top of the seventh to widen the gap and pick up the win in game two.

ON DECK
Illinois State and Bradley will wrap up their three-game midweek series on Tuesday, when the two teams play the third game of the series at Marian Kneer Stadium. The Redbirds won the previous two games in the series in Peoria.

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