Birds Walk Off The Panthers For 5-4 Senior Day Victory
NORMAL, Ill. – Sunday's series finale between Illinois State and UNI was another exciting one, as the Redbirds (20-28, 13-10 MVC) used a walk off RBI single from Bella Atkinson to defeat the Panthers (28-17, 16-8 MVC) by a score of 5-4 on Senior Day at Marian Kneer Stadium.
BIRDS BITS (vs. UNI)
Offensive Highlights:
Addison Masching: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
Abby Knight: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B
Tatum Wolford: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Julia Larson: 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meshnick (W, 10-10): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI took an early lead, with three runs in the top of the first inning however the Redbirds would answer with one in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Masching that made the score 3-1. ISU would also get a run in the bottom of the second inning to trim the UNI lead to one at 3-2, after an RBI single off the bat of Wolford. The Redbirds would then take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Knight scored on an errant throw home from the outfield that allowed her to score from third base to tie the game at 3-3. ISU would then take the lead at 4-3, after a sacrifice fly off the bat of Masching.
UNI would tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning and the game would stay knotted until the bottom of the seventh. Masching led off the inning with an RBI single before being pinch run for by Abby Horton. Horton would then move up to second base on a single by Adisyn Hopkins, who was then pinch run for by Marissa Moffett. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Ella Boyer put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Atkinson then stepped to the plate and ripped a single into right field to score Horton and secure the 5-4 Senior Day walk off winner for the Redbirds.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will resume their game from March 29 against UIC that was halted due to rain on Wednesday, April 30, at Marian Kneer Stadium at 4 p.m.
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