KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Illinois State softball team fell to No. 8 Tennessee 19-3 and 6-0 in two games Tuesday evening in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Volunteers were unstoppable at the plate in game one as they put up 19 runs on 17 hits. Illinois State jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of first when Jordan de los Reyes drove in Annie Heineman and Kara Repp with a double down the left field line.
However, Tennessee sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame and posted six runs, highlighted by a Lexi Overstreet grand slam. Four of the runs in the first inning came with two outs. In the second inning, Tennessee was at it again, this time scoring nine runs and sending 14 batters to the plate.
All nine spots in the UT lineup recorded a hit and at one point the Vols put together nine hits in a row, including five for extra bases. The Vols kept right on hitting, adding four runs in the third. The fourth inning was the only inning they did not score.
Heineman added the final run for ISU with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Regan Romshek took the loss to fall to 7-8 on the season.
For all of Tennessee's offensive exploits in the first game, it was its pitching that dominated the second game. ISU sent Sarah Finck to the circle for the second consecutive day and, once again, the freshman did not disappoint.
She relented one run in the first inning, but matched zeroes with Tennessee's Erin Gabriel through the fifth. Gabriel was on fire from the get-go and no-hit ISU. Only three Redbirds reached base throughout the game.
Tennessee put together a five-run sixth inning and ended the Redbirds' rally attempt in the seventh to take a 6-0 victory. Finck took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the season. It's the second time this year that ISU has been no-hit.
The Redbirds (9-15) will now focus their attention on Missouri Valley Conference play. ISU will open Saturday against Northern Iowa with a pair of games at 12 and 2:30 p.m. at Marian Kneer Stadium. A live audio broadcast will be available for all three weekend games on GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
