NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team enjoyed another offensive outburst along with dominant pitching Thursday night in a fall exhibition contest versus Illinois Central College at Marian Kneer Stadium.
ISU found itself in a hole early as Megan Connor blasted a grand slam in the top of the first inning to give ICC a 4-0 lead. The Redbirds went quietly in the bottom of the frame and then surrendered another run in the second.
However, ISU's comeback bid began in the bottom of the second as Shannon Felde doubled and Lauren Prader drove her in with a two-run home run.
Regan Romshek entered the circle in relief in the second inning and shut down the Cougar attack, going 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts and one walk.
Her offense gave her plenty to work with in the middle innings. In the fourth, Riley Strandgard led off with a home run and Ali Domkuski walked and would later come around to score on an RBI single from Alex Caliva.
ISU whittled the lead to one and in the fifth exploded for 14 runs on 12 hits. The first seven batters of the inning reached base and Kori Mesecher and Jordan de los Reyes each hit home runs. De los Reyes was one of three Redbirds with multiple hits in the inning.
The Redbirds added two more in the eighth inning when Strandgard singled to drive in Parker Bandy and Kaitlyn Knary. ICC added four more in the 10th on a grand slam from Courtney Pearson, but Domkuski was able to get out of the inning without any more trouble.
Sarah Finck came on for three innings of relief after Romshek and did not allow a hit while striking out six. Combined, the pair threw 6 1/3 innings and gave up two hits while striking out 11 and walking one.
Strandgard led the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Domkuski and Caliva also added three RBIs.
ISU is back in action Sunday against DePaul. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Field of Dreams in Barrington, Illinois.
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