Redbird Bats Explode In 15-5 Run-Rule Win In Series Finale At Drake
DES MOINES, Iowa – After being held to one run in each of the first two games of the series at Drake, the Illinois State offense exploded for a season-high 15 runs on a season-best 18 hits on Sunday as the Redbirds (12-25, 6-7 MVC) won the series finale over the Bulldogs (13-21, 5-7 MVC) at Ron Buel Field by a score of 15-5 in five innings.
The 15 runs scored by the Redbirds are the most since April of 2023 in a 15-6 win over UIC. The 15 runs top the previous high of 11 scored in a win over UIC.
BIRDS BITS (vs. Drake)
Offensive Highlights:
Ella Boyer: 4-for-4, 4 RBI
Bella Atkinson: 3-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI
Adisyn Hopkins: 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Tatum Wolford: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI
Julia Larson: 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Addison Masching: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB
Pitching Breakdown:
Hannah Meeks: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3, ER, 5 BB, 2 K
Paige McLeod (W, 1-9): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HOW IT HAPPENED
Drake scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead, but the Redbirds got one back in the top of the second on an RBI single by Boyer to cut the lead in half at 2-1. The Bulldogs would answer with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 advantage.
As action moved to the top of the third inning, the Redbird bats exploded for five runs on five hits to take a 6-5 lead. Wolford got the scoring started with a two-run single before Atkinson added an RBI single and Boyer added a 2-run single of her own to cap off the scoring. The top of the fourth inning would be much of the same for the Redbirds, as they scored four runs on seven hits to balloon the lead to 10-5. Larson got things started with an RBI double down the right field like that scored Masching and Atkinson would follow with a 2-run single to score Larson and Hopkins. Delainey Bryant would tack on the final run of the frame with an RBI single to second base.
The top of the fifth inning would once again see the Redbirds plate five runs, this time on four hits, to balloon the lead to 15-5. Hopkins started the scoring with her first home run of the season, a 2-run shot over the left field wall, to make the score 12-5 at the time. Atkinson would then drive in Wolford for the 13th run of the game and Boyer followed with her fourth hit of the contest to drive in Larson for run No. 14. The final run of the game would come in when Bella Wilkerson recorded an RBI groundout to plate Atkinson.
McLeod was stellar in relief of Meeks, as she pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of work giving up just two hits while striking out three to record her first win of the season.
ON DECK
The Redbirds travel to Iowa City on Tuesday to take on Big Ten Conference foe Iowa in a midweek non-conference matchup, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
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