Tom Szymoniak General Manager/Weibring Golf Club | Illinois State University Athletics Website
Tom Szymoniak General Manager/Weibring Golf Club | Illinois State University Athletics Website
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds secured a series victory over Evansville with a 6-5 walk-off win in the second game of their matchup. The decisive moment came on a bases-loaded walk, improving the Redbirds' season record to 21-30 and their Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) record to 15-11 as they approach the final regular-season game.
The team showcased strong offensive performances, collecting 13 hits in total. Abby Knight led with a notable contribution, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Paige McLeod earned her second win of the weekend in relief, extending her streak to eight consecutive hitless innings.
Key players included Ella Boyer, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk; Jayden Standish, who recorded a 2-for-4 performance with a double and an RBI; and Bella Wilkerson, who also went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Pitching duties were handled by Hannah Meshnick, who pitched 5.2 innings allowing five runs on eight hits. Paige McLeod closed out the game without giving up any hits or runs over her 1.1 innings.
The Redbirds started strong by scoring three runs in the first inning. Delainey Bryant's single was followed by contributions from Abby Knight and Jayden Standish that helped build an early lead. Evansville responded in the third inning but Illinois State extended their lead again shortly after through strategic base running and timely hitting.
Evansville managed to tie the game by scoring four runs across the fifth and sixth innings. However, Illinois State sealed their victory in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases and Ella Boyer drew a walk to push across the winning run.
The final game of their regular season is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at noon Central Time (CT), where they will also celebrate Senior Day post-game. The MVC tournament will follow next week starting Wednesday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
For ongoing updates about Illinois State Softball activities and events, fans can follow their official social media channels or visit GoRedbirds.com.
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