March 22, 2014
Box Score |
Fischer Postgame Interview 
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Back-to-back Northern Iowa (15-8, 3-2 MVC) home runs in the sixth inning broke open a scoreless game, as the Illinois State softball team (10-18, 2-1 MVC) dropped the series finale to the Panthers, 3-1, Saturday afternoon at Southern Illinois' Charlotte West Stadium. The Redbirds still claimed the series win, however, thanks to a doubleheader sweep on Friday.
After pitching 12.0 innings on Friday, Regan Romshek (LP, 8-8) put together another quality outing in Saturday's defeat. Romshek had only allowed two hits through 5.2 innings, before giving up the two decisive homers. Taylor Baxter came on in relief of Romshek, her first appearance out of the bullpen this season, and retired the only batter she faced.
Offensively, the Redbirds challenged UNI starter Jamie Fisher (WP, 9-5), but could not string together enough hits for a big inning. ISU recorded seven knocks on the day, including at least one in all but the first inning. However, the Redbirds' only run came on Jordan de los Reyes' league-leading seventh home run of the season. Kelsey Turczyn was the only Redbird to reach base twice, while seven of the nine starters tallied one hit apiece.
Romshek and Fisher were locked in a pitchers' duel until the UNI bats got going in the sixth. With two outs and nobody on base, Romshek walked Rikki Alcaraz. Chelsea Ross came to the plate and hit a home run off the scoreboard in right field to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Nicole Fisher followed with a solo blast to left center field that made it a 3-0 game.
De los Reyes led off the seventh with a solo shot to right field to bring the Redbirds within two, at 3-1. Turczyn walked two batters later to bring the tying run to the plate, but both Sara Bradley and Kara Repp were retired to end the game.
ISU's next games will be their first home contests of the season. The Redbirds will host Indiana State for a three-game series, March 29-30.
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