McLean County Times

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State claimed a 7-3 victory over Bradley in their final game of a midweek conference series, sweeping their I-74 rivals. Julia Larson led the Redbirds’ offensive charge, contributing a double, a triple, and five RBI. This series win follows a previous sweep of Valparaiso and marks the Redbirds' eighth win in their last nine games.

In offensive contributions, Larson went 2-for-3, driving in five runs. Delainey Bryant was also 2-for-3, adding two runs, while Abby Knight scored two runs with a 1-for-2 performance. Addison Masching contributed with a 1-for-4 outing, a double, and two RBI.

The pitching efforts were led by Paige McLeod, who pitched five innings with seven hits and two earned runs. Hannah Meeks closed with two innings, allowing four hits and one earned run.

The Redbirds quickly established their lead, with Larson's double bringing in the first two runs in the first inning. Masching extended the lead in the second with a two-run double, and Larson followed with a bases-clearing triple, pushing the score to 7-0. Despite Bradley's attempts to close the gap, adding two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh, the Redbirds secured the win and improved to 12-8 in league play.

Illinois State will continue their homestand with an upcoming three-game series against UNI, starting Friday at 5 p.m.

Updates on Illinois State Softball can be followed on their various social media platforms.###