ISU Bats Silent in 7-1 Loss to No. 5/4 Michigan

Feb. 9, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. - The Illinois State softball team (1-3) mustered only two hits en route to a 7-1 loss to No. 5/4 Michigan (2-1), Sunday morning in its final game at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament. Regan Romshek accounted for ISU's only offense with a solo home run.

The Redbirds' offense was held in check by Michigan starter Haylie Wagner (WP, 1-0), who went the distance and struck out 10. Laura Canopy tallied ISU's other hit, while Nichelle Harrison and Jordan de los Reyes reached on walks.

Taylor Baxter (LP, 1-1), Romshek (ND) and McKensie Vissering (ND) each threw 2.1 innings from the circle. Vissering was the most effective, as she did not allow a run and recorded a strike out.

Baxter was able to work out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, but could not circumvent trouble again in the second. Baxter surrendered a leadoff walk and single, before Lyndsay Doyle singled to plate the game's first run. Baxter was removed in favor of Romshek, who induced a lineout before reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Sierra Romero made it 2-0 with a RBI knock of her own.

Romshek got the final out of the inning and kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard in the third before helping her own cause in the bottom half of the frame. The sophomore drove a 1-1 offering from Wagner over the fence in left center field for her second-career home run, and first hit of the season.

The one-run deficit would be short-lived, however, as Michigan seized control of the game with a four-run fourth. The Wolverines loaded the bases against Romshek on three-straight singles to begin the inning. One batter later, Romero's two-RBI single made it a 4-1 Michigan lead. Romshek retired the next batter, before Kelly Christner cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple to deep center field that gave the Wolverines a 6-1 advantage.

Vissering (ND) came in after the triple to record the final out of the inning. Making her ISU debut, the Illinois Central transfer kept the Wolverines scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, including notching the Redbirds' first 1-2-3 frame of the contest in the sixth.

Vissering allowed a leadoff single to Wagner to begin the seventh before Baxter reentered. Two batters later, Wagner was thrown out by Canopy trying to move from second to third on a throwing error by Kolby Hoffman, who threw wide of first after fielding a grounder hit by Abby Ramirez. Ramirez later stole second, moved to third on a single from Doyle, and scored the game's final run when the Redbirds threw down to second base in an attempt to throw out Doyle on a steal attempt.

ISU will next be in action at the ASU Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Feb. 14-16. The Redbirds will take on Washington, SIUE, Michigan State, Arizona State and defending national champion Oklahoma during the event.

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.