SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – #7 seed Indiana State softball defeated #10 seed Valparaiso 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Killian Stadium in the first round of the MVC Tournament.

The Action
After Lexi Benko worked around a leadoff double from Valpo in the first, the Sycamores put up a four run opening frame to take a 4-0 lead.

Bella Peterson reached with a one-out single to center to give Indiana State their first baserunner. Amanda Guercio then reached on a fielding error by the Beacons to put runners on first and second. Isabella Henning was up next and loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Annie Tokarek singled to center field to score Peterson and Guercio to make it 2-0.

With two outs in the inning, Cassie Thomerson hit a groundball to the Valpo shortstop who threw the ball away which allowed pinch-runner Kaylee Barrett and Isabella Henning to score and put the Sycamores up 4-0 after one.

Benko stranded another Valparaiso runner in scoring position in the second as both teams went scoreless in the frame.

In the bottom of the third inning, Lexie Siwek laid down a bunt and reached for a single but an errant Valpo throw allowed Isabella Henning to score from first and increase the Sycamore lead to 5-0.

The Sycamores increased their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Isabella Henning delivered a two-out bases-loaded single to left field which scored Olivia Patton. Bella Peterson also scored on the play after Valparaiso was called for interference at home plate which made it a 7-0 Indiana State lead.

A Sycamore error extended the inning in the fifth and Valparaiso got on the board with an RBI groundout and a RBI single that made it 7-2.

The Beacons got within two runs in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits to make it a 7-5 game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Isabella Henning gave the Sycamores some insurance runs with a two-run shot to right center to put Indiana State up 9-5 heading into the final frame.

Cassi Newbanks worked the seventh inning, getting a strikeout along to the way to securing the 9-5 win for the Sycamores. Benko gets the victory to improve to 14-14 on the year. She struck out five batters across six innings.

Indiana State finished with 11 hits, led by Isabella Henning who went 3-for-3 and collected three RBIs.

The Sycamores eliminate Valpo for the second-straight season and move on to face #6 seed Illinois State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Scouting the Redbirds
Illinois State finished the regular season at 12-13 including a series win over the Sycamores in Normal in April.

On offense, the Redbirds are led by All-MVC Second Team Selection Emme Olson who finished the regular season with a .352 batting average and 50 hits including 15 doubles and five home runs. First Team All-MVC selection Delainey Bryant is second on Illinois State with a .324 average, driving in a team-high 29 runs while hitting seven home runs.

Two pitchers have made over 20 starts for the Redbirds, led by Hannah Ross who has a 11-14 record and a 2.99 ERA in 37 appearances, striking out 104 batters in 143 innings pitched. All-MVC Second Team Selection has a 3.41 ERA, going 11-11 in the regular season while striking out a team-high 132 batters in 150 innings of work.

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