Despite Planty of Offense Illinois State Drops 2 of 3 to UNI on the Road to Cap off a Tough Weekend

NORMAL, Ill. – 69 total runs were scored between the Illinois State Redbirds and University of Northern Iowa softball teams this past weekend, and despite having some shining moments of their own, ISU will return home this weekend dropping two out of three to the Panthers.

The first two games of the series were a double header on Friday, and saw both teams take a game. ISU won the opener and UNI winning the second.

Game one was decided in Extra Innings as an early 6-0 lead for the Redbirds dissipated late culminating in a 4-run bottom of the seventh for Northern Iowa to force extras.

It was all Illinois State early, putting up a six spot in the second inning, highlighted by a Bella Atkinson Grand Slam, that set the table for Redbird ace Paige Mcleod, or so the team thought early.

The middle innings were quiet until a 2-run fifth inning for the Panthers, put them on the board and set up their comeback in the seventh. A crucial Illinois State error kept the inning alive which set up the game tying 2-out three run Home Run for the Panthers, and off to extras the game went. Illinois State was able to scratch across a pair of runs in their half of the eight and Hannah Meshnick slammed the door in the UNI half to seal a close and gutsy win for the redbirds in game one.

This however, is where the good vibes would end for Illinois State on the weekend.

Game 2 saw Illinois State struggle on defense and in the circle with Both Hannah Meshnick and Gracelyn Kemp being charged with un-earned runs on their pitching lines in the contest, a total of 4 on the day, and that was a hole ISU could not dig themselves out of.

Despite a 5-run sixth inning that saw the Birds rally withing two, UNI would tack on three runs of their own in the inning and took game 2 in rather disappointing fashion for the Redbirds.

And then came game three. A 16-24 barn burner that saw everything from massive leads to furious comebacks, and plenty of offense enough for an entire weekend of softball.

Things could not have started any better for Illinois State as they jumped all over UNI to take an early 13-0 lead through the first three innings, from there things fell apart for Illinois State as the Panthers went on to outscore the Birds 24-3 the rest of the game.

It all started when UNI scored a remarkable 11 runs in the home half of the third inning as starter Paige Mcleod fell apart in the inning only recording two outs before being removed for Hannah Meeks, her final line on the day 2.2 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. From there it got even worse as Meeks entered the ball game and was unable to record an out, allowing six runs, three of which belonged to Mcleod before being lifted for Hannah Meshnick. Her final line was 0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K. Despite all of this Illinois State held onto a 13-11 lead after a scoreless fourth inning and even rebuilding their lead back to four leading 15-11.

And then UNI had their second big inning of the day. Hannah Meshnick ended up being the losing pitcher in the affair giving up seven runs of her own in just two innings of work, contributing to a nine run fifth inning for the Panthers. She was then lifted for Gracelyn Kemp, and Meshnick when it was all said and done finished with a line of 2.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.

Illinois State added on one more run in the top of the sixth, but UNI had Mercy on their minds scoring four runs in the home sixth to walk off the Birds and hand them a gut-wrenching defeat to close out the weekend.

UNI’s 24 runs was an ISU program record for most runs scored by an opponent in a single game.

At the conclusion of the contest the Illinois State team earned run average had ballooned by almost a full run, and Paige Mcleod saw hers alone shoot up almost a run and a half.

On a lighter note Lauren Flowers recorded a new career high in Runs Batted In with 6, and despite struggling in the circle Hannah Meeks had a day at the plate Hitting a Grand slam in that 11 run ISU inning, and was just a couple hitters away from becoming the first player in program history to hit and allow a grand slam in the same game.

Illinois State now has to turn the page and quick as the University of Illinois Fighting Illini await the Birds in Champaign this Tuesday for a mid-week clash, before coming home to host the Valparaiso Beacons this weekend.

To keep up with Illinois State Softball as season long as they chase the MVC Title, visit wznd.com.