Feb. 22, 2014
USF Box Score |
JMU Box Score |
Fischer JMU Postgame Interview 
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HU Box Score |
Fischer HU Postgame Interview
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Illinois State softball team played from sun rise to sun set Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, going 1-2 in the completion of a game that was suspended Friday evening and two full games. The Redbirds (4-9) lost the resumed game against South Florida, 5-0, before beating James Madison (7-6), 1-0, and falling to Hofstra (2-1), 8-4.
The Redbirds were no-hit by the combination of Erica Nunn and Sara Nevins in the game against USF, but bounced back with a combined 12 hits and five runs against the Dukes and Pride. Kolby Hoffman and Jordan de los Reyes led the way with three hits apiece, including a home run from de los Reyes. Sara Bradley tallied two RBI, while Laura Canopy drove home ISU's other run.
Regan Romshek started two of the Redbirds' contests, getting the ball against USF and James Madison, and went 1-1 with a 2.69 ERA in two complete games. Taylor Baxter and McKensie Vissering combined to go the distance against Hofstra.
Game One - South Florida 5, Illinois State 0
Bringing a 1-0 lead into Saturday morning's continuation, the Bulls pulled away from the Redbirds for the victory, while Nevins finished what Nunn (WP, 2-2) started in the circle.
After driving home the game's first run with a squeeze bunt on Friday, Ta'coia Williams busted the game open with a three-run homer against Romshek (LP, 2-4) in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bulls tacked on one more in the sixth on a RBI single by D'Anna Devine to make it 5-0.
After Nunn pitched 4.0 scoreless and hitless innings Friday, striking out eight, the Bulls turned to two-time All-American Nevins Saturday morning. The lefty tossed 3.0 scoreless and hitless frames of her own, striking out four, as the Redbirds were no-hit for the first time since March 2, 2013 against No. 5/9 Texas A&M.
Game Two - Illinois State 1, James Madison 0
Romshek got the nod against the Dukes shortly after finishing the contest against USF, and responded by throwing one of her best games of the season.
The sophomore scattered four hits over the course ISU's first shutout of the season, striking out two and walking one. JMU never had more than one runner on base, as Romshek recorded her first shutout since Feb. 24, 2013 in this same tournament against No. 14 South Florida.
ISU's lone run came in the bottom of the third inning. Making her first start of the season, Lindsey Greene led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Bradley. Two batters later, Canopy tripled off the fence in center field to bring home Greene and give ISU all the offense it would need.
Game Three - Hofstra 8, Illinois State 4
As has been the case many times early in 2014, the Redbirds surrendered one big inning that put them in a deficit too large to overcome.
Baxter (LP, 1-5) cruised through the first two innings before allowing five runs in the third. The Pride began the frame by loading the bases on a double, walk and single. Two batters later, Maggie Hawkins cleared the bases with a double that opened the game's scoring and made it 3-0 HU. The next batter, Erin Trippi, singled, before Baxter was removed in favor of Vissering (ND). Vissering got the next out, before Becca Bigler singled to bring home two and give Hofstra a 5-0 advantage.
After being held scoreless for the first four innings by HU starter Morgan Lashley (WP, 2-0), the Redbirds broke through with two runs in the fifth. With two outs, sophomore Kaitlin Knary singled up the middle, the first hit of her career, before Brittny Drish walked. Bradley brought home both runners with a double to deep center field, cutting ISU's deficit to 5-2.
Hofstra pushed the lead back to five with two runs against Vissering in fifth, on a RBI single by Bigler and RBI groundout from Tori Rocha. The Redbirds bounced back yet again in the sixth, scoring two on de los Reyes' second home run of the season, a two-run shot that screamed over the fence in left to make it 7-4. HU added an insurance run against Baxter in the sixth, and retired the Redbirds in order in the seventh to secure the win.
Now 1-3 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, all nine of the Redbirds' losses this season have come against teams that made the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
ISU will conclude its stay at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a game against Connecticut, Sunday at 10 a.m., CST.
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