McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds secured a 6-2 victory against Valparaiso in the second game of their weekend series. The Redbirds, now on a four-game winning streak, improved their Missouri Valley Conference record to 8-7. This marks their third series win in conference play, following victories against Bradley, UIC, and now Valpo.

During the match, Illinois State's offense struggled initially but found momentum with timely hits. Delainey Bryant went 2-for-3, scoring twice and hitting a triple. Julia Larson also contributed by going 2-for-3, while Ella Boyer, Tatum Wolford, Addison Masching, and Abby Knight made notable offensive contributions with key hits and runs.

On the pitching side, Paige McLeod achieved her second win of the season, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Hannah Meeks provided relief, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.

The game took a decisive turn in the third inning thanks to Wolford's 3-run double, giving the Redbirds an early lead. They extended their advantage in the fourth inning through a combination of runs from Boyer, Bryant, and Masching. Valparaiso managed to put a run on the board in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Illinois State held firm to secure the win.

The series final is scheduled for Sunday at the Valpo Softball Complex with a noon start time. Updates for Illinois State Softball can be found on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook under the team's respective handles.