ISU softball secures series sweep of Valparaiso

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Hannah Meeks threw a one-hit shutout for Illinois State softball as it completed a series sweep against Valparaiso Sunday at Valpo Softball Complex.

The ISU offense erupted for 13 of its 15 runs in the second inning en route to the 15-0 victory in five innings.

Leading the attack for the Redbirds was Dayna Kennedy with two hits and four RBIs. The senior clubbed her fourth home run of the season before Delainey Bryant followed that up with a solo shot of her own — capping off the 13-run second inning for ISU.

After a sacrifice fly from Hanna Hicks that scored the game’s first run with two outs in the top of the second, ISU proceeded to score 12 runs with two outs in the inning.

Kaili Chval had a two-run single while Abby Knight, Addison Masching and Jayden Standish each had run-scoring singles in the inning.

This forced Valparaiso starter Caitlyn Kowalski out of the game after giving up seven earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. The Beacons used four different pitchers in the second inning.

Abby Horton collected her first career hit — a two-run single in the fifth to finish off the scoring for the Redbirds.

The only base runner in the game for the Beacons came in the second inning off a double from Kimberli Rodas.

This was the second one-hit shutout of Meeks' career with the first coming in a win over Jacksonville State back on Feb. 25.

The victory gives the Redbirds a five-game win streak and moves them a game under .500 at 14-15. Their conference record now sits at 4-1.

With the defeat, the Beacons dropped to 3-21 and are winless in the Missouri Valley Conference.