McLean County Times

In a thrilling conclusion to the series, Illinois State's softball team emerged victorious over Murray State after an 11-inning contest on Sunday. The Redbirds clinched the series with an 8-5 win, marking the end of the regular season and paving their way to the MVC Championship in Des Moines, Iowa.

Murray State had initially seized a strong position, leading 4-0 by the end of the first inning. However, Illinois State began to close the gap in the fifth inning with a three-run breakthrough, highlighted by Bella Wilkerson's double and Abby Knight's two-run double. The Redbirds continued to battle back, eventually tying the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI double from Addison Masching.

As the game extended into extra innings, Masching once again excelled with a double in the 10th inning, briefly giving Illinois State a 5-4 lead. Murray State managed to equalize, pushing the game into the 11th inning. The Redbirds then secured their victory with a decisive three-run stretch. Knight contributed with an RBI single, followed by Lexie Griffin and Julia Larson who each added to the score with crucial hits.

Hannah Meshnick, pitching for Illinois State, delivered an impressive performance despite the extended innings. She completed the entire game, allowing ten hits but maintaining composure to secure the team's win.

The Redbirds now proceed to the 2025 MVC Championship, securing the fourth seed and a first-round bye. They will face the winner of the Missouri State versus UIC game on May 8th.

For the latest updates on the Illinois State Softball team, follow their social media channels and visit GoRedbirds.com.