McLean County Times

Illinois State University's softball team claimed a victory against Bradley University, thanks to Hannah Meshnick's complete-game shutout. The match took place in Peoria at OSF Healthcare Field as part of the I-74 rivalry series. Meshnick's performance was key in the Redbirds' 1-0 win, marking their fourth consecutive victory and evening their Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) record at 5-5.

The Redbirds, now 11-23 overall, played a strong offensive game with contributions from Abby Knight, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, Julia Larson who hit a triple, and Delainey Bryant, who scored. Meshnick, with a record of 6-9, held Bradley to just two hits over seven innings, recording six strikeouts.

The game began with the Redbirds taking an early lead. After Bryant and Larson walked, Knight's double brought Bryant home. Meshnick kept Bradley at bay, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning and managing to strand a runner at third in the seventh inning.

Next, Illinois State will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, for a weekend series against Drake University, continuing their MVC schedule. The games will begin with a 5 p.m. start on Friday, followed by a Saturday game at 2 p.m., and concluding with a noon game on Sunday.

To keep up with Illinois State softball, fans can follow the team on their social media platforms. More information about Illinois State athletics is available on GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App.