Redbirds Run-Rule Bulldogs 11-0; Game 2 Cancelled

NORMAL, Ill. - Despite sitting through a 45-minute rain delay, the Illinois State softball team (25-24, 17-5 MVC) picked up an 11-0 run-rule victory over Drake (17-30, 9-13 MVC) Monday at Marian Kneer Stadium. Inclement weather rolled in between contests and forced the cancellation of the second game of the scheduled doubleheader.

The win was the ninth in a row for ISU and with the victory, the Redbirds can claim the MVC regular-season title with two wins this weekend at home against Wichita State. It also marked the first time the Redbirds have been over .500 all season, after starting the year with a very difficult non-conference slate.

Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week Regan Romshek (17-14) picked up the complete-game shutout victory for the Redbirds. Romshek allowed just five hits and struck out five Bulldog hitters in five innings of work to pick up her 28th complete game and fifth shutout of the season. Drake starter Mariah McKinnon (2-12) was charged with the loss, after she allowed seven earned runs on five hits in just one inning of work.

ISU jumped out with four runs in the bottom of the first inning, all coming with two outs. Sara Bradley drove in a pair with a RBI single through the left side of the infield to get things started and Stephanie Gallant followed with a two-run home run, her sixth of the season, to push two more runs across the plate and make it 4-0 early. 

Nichelle Harrison would later score on a Jordan de los Reyes double into left center field for the final run of the frame. Two more runs would cross the plate in the bottom of the third inning, thanks to a RBI ground out by Drish and a bases-loaded walk from de los Reyes. The Redbirds then added a final run in the bottom of the fourth inning, before Romshek fired a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth inning to close out the game.
The Redbirds then chased McKinnon out of the game in the bottom of the second inning with four more runs. Kara Repp led off the frame with a single and later scored, when Brittny Drish reached on a bunt single and the throw to first was wide, allowing Drish to move second on the throw and Repp to come around and score. Laura Canopy then launched her seventh home run, to push two more runs across the plate and know McKinnon out of the game.

Repp finished the contest 2-for-2 with a run scored and Canopy was officially 1-for-1, with a pair of runs scored and three walks. Harrison added a pair of walks and scored a pair of runs as well, and Annie Heineman walked and scored twice in the victory for the Redbirds.

ISU will look to secure the MVC regular-season title Saturday against Wichita State, with a doubleheader slated to start at noon. The regular season finale will take place Sunday at noon at Marian Kneer Stadium.

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