TAMPA, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team experienced highs and lows on its way to a 1-1 start to the 2015 season Friday in Tampa, Florida. The Redbirds defeated Jacksonville 8-7 in 10 innings in the first game and then fell to South Florida 7-0 in the nightcap.
The Redbirds were relentless in the season opener against a pesky Jacksonville squad. In the first inning, Annie Heineman reached base by way of a hit by pitch and Regan Romshek clubbed an RBI triple to bring her home. Romshek would later come home to give ISU an early 2-0 advantage.
However, Jacksonville would answer with a four-run third inning on a pair of two-run homers. The Dolphins took a 4-2 lead and would hold it until the bottom of the fourth. ISU began to chip away, scoring a run in the fourth and then in the fifth Jordan de los Reyes sent a towering home run well beyond the left field fence to tie the ballgame.
What ensued after that was a battle of wills as the two teams went to extra innings, which are played under international tiebreaker rules. Each team started the 7-10 innings with a runner on second base and every inning the Dolphins were able to push a run across.
The Redbirds matched Jacksonville run-for-run until the 10th inning. Freshman Abby Turczyn laced an RBI single to plate Riley Strandgard, which tied the game at seven apiece. Later in the inning, de los Reyes smacked a walk off single to right field to win the game for the Redbirds.
De los Reyes finished the game 2-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Payton Billups was magnificent in her Redbird debut, as the junior went 3-4 with a double, two singles and two RBIs.
Romshek went all 10 innings for the Redbirds, picking up her first win of the season. She gave up four earned runs on 12 hits while striking out six.
Game two went a bit differently for ISU as they were stymied by USF's lefthander, Erika Nunn. Nunn set the tone early, striking out the side in the top of the first, and her offense then gave her two runs in the bottom of the frame. That would be more than enough.
ISU had a patient approach throughout the game, but four walks were all they could muster. Nunn no-hit the Redbirds and the Bulls dropped the 'Birds to 1-1 on the season with a 7-0 win. It's the second-straight season that Illinois State has been no-hit by South Florida.
Romshek took the loss for the Redbirds, which drops her to 1-1 on the season. McKensie Vissering threw the last two innings for ISU, giving up four runs on three hits.
ISU will play two more tomorrow, beginning with Hampton at 10:15 CT. The Redbirds will then have a shot at the defending champion and number one ranked Florida Gators at 2:45 CT. Both games will be carried live on GoRedbirds.com.
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