URBANA, Ill. – A trio of solo home runs from fifth-year senior Emme Olson, senior Brandi LaFountaine and sophomore Delainey Bryant led Illinois State (25-17, 14-3 MVC) to a 3-2 victory over in-state, Big Ten foe Illinois (24-21, 3-11 Big Ten) Tuesday evening in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
BIRDS BITS
Offensive Highlights:
- Emme Olson: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
- Brandi LaFountaine: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
- Delainey Bryant: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R
- Addison Masching: 2-for-3, 2B
- Hanna Hicks: 1-for-1, SB
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State got on the board early as fifth-year senior Emme Olson launched a solo home run to center field to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead over the Illini in the top of the first.
A single and a hit-by-pitch gave Illinois a pair of baserunners in the bottom half of the first, but freshman Hannah Meshnick kept her composure in the circle and got a groundout to end the inning without any damage.
Meshnick had a pair of three up, three down innings in the bottom of the second and third, but a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth came back to hurt. Illinois launched a one-out, two-run home run to take the lead 2-1.
The Illini lead did not last long. With one out in the top of the fifth inning, senior Brandi LaFountaine and sophomore Delainey Bryant hit back-to-back solo home runs to regain the lead for the Redbirds and force a pitching change for the Illini.
Illinois went down in order in the bottom of the fifth and sixth, but the Illini squeaked a hit through the left side to start the final frame of the game. That did not faze Meshnick as she came back to get a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a flyout to secure the Redbirds' victory 3-2 over Illinois.
NOTES
- Illinois State defeated Illinois for the first time in 11 years. The last time the Redbirds beat the Illini was on April 4, 2012, in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. Illinois State won that game 1-0 on a sacrifice fly from Elizabeth Kay that scored Lauren Kellar in the sixth inning.
- Meshnick tossed her fourth complete game of her young career. She scattered four hits across her seven innings pitched and picked up a pair of strikeouts.
- Olson hit her sixth home run of the season which ties her career high for home runs in a single season. She hit six home runs during her freshman campaign in 2019. Olson also extended her on-base streak to 18 consecutive games.
- Bryant hit her seventh home run of the season which ties her career high for home runs in a single season. Bryant hit seven home runs last season in her freshman year when she was a First Team All-MVC selection.
- LaFountaine hit her second home run of the season which is a new career high for home runs in a single season for the senior outfielder. Prior to this season, she had hit one home run in her career back in 2021.
- The last time Illinois State hit three home runs in a game was on Mar. 24, 2023, at Valparaiso. The Redbirds also hit back-to-back home runs that same weekend on Mar. 26, 2023, against the Beacons as senior Dayna Kennedy and Bryant went back-to-back in a 13-run inning for the 'Birds.
ON DECK
Illinois State (24-17, 14-3 MVC) returns home to host top-seeded UNI (26-11, 15-1 MVC) for a three-game weekend series at Marian Kneer Stadium that begins on Friday, Apr. 21 at 5 p.m. CT.
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