Illinois State Advances in MVC Softball Championship
Des Moines, Iowa – The Illinois State Redbirds triumphed over the Missouri State Bears in a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Softball Championship on May 9, securing a spot in the semifinals. The fourth-seeded Redbirds initially built a commanding 6-0 lead, with Delainey Bryant hitting 3-for-4 and scoring twice.
Illinois State’s offensive surge began in the first inning, where they scored three runs, aided by strong performances from Julia Larson and Addison Masching. Despite the Bears, the fifth seed, narrowing the gap to just one run at 6-5 in the sixth inning, relief pitcher Paige McLeod stepped in to stifle Missouri State’s momentum. With critical strikeouts and key defensive plays, she preserved the Redbirds’ lead, finishing the game with an impressive 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Pitcher Hannah Meshnick earned the win for Illinois State, allowing five earned runs over 5.1 innings. McLeod’s decisive performance secured her second save of the season, enabling the Redbirds to successfully fend off the competitive Bears (20-33) and advance to the semifinals.
The Redbirds are set to face top-seeded Southern Illinois on Friday, May 10, at Ron Buel Field. Fans can catch the game live on ESPN+ and keep up with all the action via the team’s social media channels.
For more information on Illinois State softball, visit GoRedbirds.com.
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