URBANA, Ill. – Indiana State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and used a season-high 16 hits to overpower Illinois, 9-2, at Eichelberger Field in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday.
 
The win marked the second consecutive win over a Big Ten Conference opponent for the Sycamores (11-12) after a 3-2 win at Purdue last season.
 
Illinois (17-6) entered the game ranked No. 20 in the RPI and were receiving votes in the national polls but couldn't keep pace with the hot bats of Indiana State while, at the same time, digging a hole for themselves with four errors.
 
Back-to-back RBI doubles in the first by Bella Peterson and Shaye Barton gave ISU the 3-0 lead. The Illini would try to keep pace with single runs in the second and third innings but Bailey Martin drove in a run with a single in the fourth to make it 4-2.
 
Then the bats really exploded. The Sycamores added four runs in the fifth with an RBI single by Mycaela Miller then a three-run double by Martin. A throwing error by Illinois gave the Trees their final run in the sixth.
 
In all, the top of the lineup was kryptonite to the Illini as Leslie Sims, Martin and Peterson combined for seven hits, six RBI and five runs. Sims tied a career-high with three of those runs.
 
Arielle Blankenship (5-4) was credited with the win after allowing no runs and only three hits in four innings in the circle while striking out three. Taylor Edwards (1-2) was charged with the loss after being responsible for eight of Indiana State's nine runs in 4.2 innings.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Bailey Martin easily gets the honor after going 3-for-5 with a double, tying a career-high four RBI and scoring once herself. Not only that, she made a diving catch in left field for the first out in the bottom of the seventh and caught the final out to seal the win. Martin also stole her 12^th base of the season.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
20. That was the RPI of Illinois entering Wednesday's doubleheader making this one of the biggest wins in program history. The Illini were also receiving votes in both polls.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (5-4)
• Loss: Taylor Edwards, Illinois (1-2)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 11-12 (3-5 Away)
• Illinois: 17-6 (1-1 Home)

NOTABLES

• The win marks Indiana State's second-ever win over the Illini. The Sycamores are 2-9 all-time against Illinois.
• The nine runs are the most Indiana State has ever scored on an Illinois team.
• With the win, Indiana State has now won two consecutive games over Big Ten teams. The last outing against a B1G opponent was a 3-2 win at Purdue last April.
• Bailey Martin tied a career-high four RBI. She drove in four runs against Toledo on Feb. 23, 2018.
• The Sycamores turned two double plays in the contest. ISU had entered the game only turning five double plays this season.
• Leslie Sims tied a career-high three runs scored matching the three runs she scored against IUPUI on Feb. 24, 2017.

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