McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds secured a victory over Evansville with a 4-1 win, completing a three-game sweep. This victory ensures their position as the fourth seed in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) softball tournament. The Redbirds' record now stands at 22-30 overall and 16-11 in conference play after finishing the regular season.

In this game, Adisyn Hopkins and Ella Boyer contributed significantly with multiple hits. Kaili Chval also made history by tying for fifth place in all-time career games played for the Redbirds, reaching 216 games.

Adisyn Hopkins went 2-for-2 with one RBI, while Ella Boyer was 2-for-3. Jayden Standish and Julia Larson each had an RBI, contributing to the team's offensive success. Pitcher Paige McLeod delivered a strong performance, allowing eight hits and one earned run over seven innings.

The Redbirds scored early, starting with a run in the second inning when Julia Larson's groundout brought Payton Brown home. In the third inning, sacrifice flies from Jayden Standish and Adisyn Hopkins increased their lead to three runs. An additional run came in the fourth inning from hits by Larson and Delainey Bryant.

Looking ahead, the Redbirds will participate in the MVC tournament at home. They are set to face off against either the fifth or twelfth seed on Thursday, May 9th.

For more updates on Illinois State Softball, fans can follow them on social media platforms like Twitter (@RedbirdsSB), Instagram (@redbirdsoftball), and Facebook (Illinois State Redbird Softball).