Game One vs. Illinois State
The combination of Cielo Meza and Madison Preston continued to be the recipe for success in the circle. Meza’s rise ball kept Illinois State (2-5) batters swinging and missing. She cruised through 5.1 innings and racked up 11 strikeouts.
The Redbirds put together a rally against Meza in the sixth as they loaded the bases. Despite Meza’s success, Coach Trisha Ford had no hesitation to pull the trigger to put in Preston.
Ford’s decision paid off immediately. Preston, who primarily uses a drop ball, induced a 1-2-3 double play and ended the threat.