SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Illinois State softball team (24-24, 16-5 MVC) completed a three-game sweep of Missouri State (25-25, 8-15 MVC) with a 3-0 victory, Sunday morning at Killian Stadium. The victory was the first-place Redbirds' eight-straight, their longest winning streak since the 2010 season, and moved their overall mark to .500 for the first time since starting the year 1-1 on Feb. 7.
Regan Romshek (WP, 16-14) was dominant in the circle for ISU. The sophomore threw her fourth shutout of the season, while going the distance for the eighth-straight start. She scattered four hits in the outing, while striking out two and walking one. The league-leader in innings pitched is 6-0 with a save in her last seven appearances.
Romshek was also one of three Redbirds to tally an RBI in the contest. Laura Canopy, Nichelle Harrison and Romshek plated runs in ISU's three-run third, its only offense of the game. Canopy, Romshek and Stephanie Gallant recorded two hits apiece, while Kara Repp, Canopy and Harrison scored the Redbirds' three runs.
After being blanked in the first two innings by Missouri State starter Erin Struemph (LP, 10-11), the Redbirds tagged her for three runs in the top of the third inning. Repp led off the frame with a single up the middle, and was sacrificed to second by Brittny Drish. Canopy hooked a double down the right field line to bring home Repp and make it a 1-0 game. Harrison followed with a single through the left side that drove in Canopy, before scoring on a single by Romshek to round out the inning's scoring and give the Redbirds a 3-0 advantage.
The three runs were more than enough run support for Romshek, who was also helped immensely by ISU's defense. All three Redbird outfielders made key plays in the game, beginning in the bottom of the third, when left fielder Annie Heineman gunned down a MSU runner at third to end the frame. In the fourth, Repp reached over the fence to bring back a home run off the bat of Heather Duckworth to keep MSU scoreless. Harrison made a fully-extended diving catch on a shallow fly ball in the fifth to round out the trio's impressive afternoon.
With the win, the Redbirds are in first place entering the final week of MVC regular-season action. ISU will host Drake in a doubleheader, Monday beginning at 3 p.m., before welcoming second-place Wichita State to Marian Kneer Stadium for a three-game series that will decide the league's champion over the weekend.
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