NORMAL, Ill. – Bella Peterson was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and hit her third home run of the season but two Sycamore errors and a wild pitch led to a 4-3 loss at Illinois State in the second game of a doubleheader at Marian Kneer Field Friday afternoon.
 
Indiana State (16-13, 4-3) had a 2-0 lead in the first but a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second by the Redbirds's Riley Strandgard cut that lead in a half. Later that inning, Abbey Kruzel issued a bases-loaded walk as Illinois State (11-23, 2-5) tied the game.
 
The next inning, a throwing error allowed a runner to score from third, giving Illinois State a 3-2 lead. A wild pitch with runners on second and third in the fifth inning pushed the host Redbirds lead to 4-2.
 
Peterson kept the Sycamores in the game in the sixth with a solo home run as part of her perfect game at the plate but the Trees couldn't push another run across the plate.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Bella Peterson was on fire at the plate Saturday, earning this honor. She was 3-for-3 with a home run in this game and finished the day on the whole 6-for-7 with four extra-base hits and 12 total bases in all. Additionally, she sent a rocket from right field straight to the plate to gun down a runner and give her an outfield assist.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
This marked the third game of the year in which the Sycamores have hit multiple home runs.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Morgan Day, Illinois State (5-6)
• Loss: Abbey Kruzel, Indiana State (2-4)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 16-13 (4-3 MVC)
• Illinois State: 11-23 (2-5 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Kylie Stober hit her first career double in the game, a stand-up version to left center field in the fourth inning
• This marks the second time this season Bella Peterson has recorded back-to-back multiple hit games
• Indiana State is now 7-3 this season in one-run games. This marks the first loss in a one-run game for the Sycamores since March 9
• Indiana State fell to 17-84 all-time against Illinois State
• Leslie Sims extended her reached base streak to 11 games

 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.