NORMAL, Ill. – Despite the setback to Northern Iowa, Illinois State earned a share of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference title Sunday afternoon's Senior Day at Marian Kneer Stadium.
The 2017 regular season MVC title is the first for the Redbirds since 2011. The Redbirds 20-6 league record is the second-best Valley record in Illinois State program history.
The Redbirds wrap up the regular season with a 30-20 overall mark, 20-6 in the Valley. The Panthers of Northern Iowa earned the 8-2 win and share the MVC regular season title with the same league record and a 32-18 season record.
The pair of seniors Annie Heineman and Jordan de los Reyes led the Redbirds' offense along with Riley Strandgard. Heineman logged two hits while both de los Reyes and Strangard had a hit and a run apiece.
Northern Iowa's Roby Brittney, Macey Wolfe, and Sammey Bunch each knocked two hits. Bunch had three RBIs on the day.
The Panthers jumped to a three-run lead in the second inning on one-run single and two-RBI triple to right.
UNI threatened in the third but an Alyssa Wiebel – Allison Spence double play held off the Panthers. Heineman singled in the third but the Redbirds could not convert.
The Redbirds put two runs on the board in the fourth inning on a Strandgard RBI-single, plating de los Reyes who singled to open the inning. Strandgard came around to score the second run on Panthers' wild pitch, cutting the deficit to one.
UNI answered back with five runs on three hits in the fifth inning, sparking an Illinois State gave the ball to Morgan Christner.
Heineman sprinted down the line for her second hit off the day in the fifth and advanced on a pass ball before the inning came to a close. Shannon Felde sparked the Redbirds' offense in the sixth with a single through the left side but was left on base.
The Redbirds' defense escaped the bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning but could not turn the momentum in their favor in the bottom of the inning.
Sarah Finck took the loss in 4.2 innings with Christer tossing 1.1 innings before Ali Domkuski closed out the game. UNI's starter Jaclyn Spencer earned the win in 4.0 frames with Alyssa Buchanan finishing the game.
Up next, Illinois State will serve as host to the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship May 11 to 13 at Marian Kneer Stadium. To purchase tickets visit GoRedbirds.com/tickets, call (309) 438-8000, or visit the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at the north entrance of Redbird Arena. Tickets can also be purchased at the gates of Marian Kneer Stadium on game day.
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 GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
