TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Illinois State offense came out in full force as the Redbirds split a doubleheader with Indiana State to open the three-game series. The Sycamores took game one 8-5 while the Redbirds answered back to win 6-1 in the second game.
Indiana State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. In the third, ISU's offense awoke and the Redbirds took their first lead. Regan Romshek and Jordan de los Reyes hit back-to-back home runs to give ISU a 2-1 lead.
As has been the case throughout the season, the Redbirds struggled with the big inning in the fourth. After Romshek recorded two outs to start the frame, Indiana State put together a hit by pitch, four singles, a double and a walk, which resulted in five runs. In the fifth, the Sycamores added one more run to push their lead to 7-2.
However, the Redbirds fought back in the top of the sixth. The long ball again proved useful as Riley Strandgard hit a two-run shot and Kelsey Turczyn followed her with a pinch-hit solo shot, which cut the lead to 7-5.
In the bottom of the sixth Indiana State's Megan Stone homered to make it 8-5 and the Redbirds' rally was stymied in the seventh.
Romshek took the loss for ISU, which drops her to 7-10 on the season. Strandgard led the ISU offense, going 3-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Romshek and Stephanie Gallant each had two hits.
Game two was a different story as pitching dominated the early innings. Two freshmen, Sarah Finck and Indiana State's Abby Klopp, controlled the game as it was scoreless after three innings.
In the fourth inning, ISU exploded, scoring six runs on four hits and two walks. Kara Repp drove in Kelsey Turczyn with a single to break the scoreless tie. Lindsey Greene then followed that up with a double that plated Repp.
After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, De los Reyes hammered a grand slam that was so far over the centerfield fence that the outfielders did not even turn to run back to the fence. It's De los Reyes' second grand slam of the season.
The only run Finck surrendered was in the bottom of the fifth and she cruised to her fourth win of the season. Finck went the full seven innings, scattering six hits and allowing no earned runs. She struck out six compared to two walks.
De los Ryes and Finck each had two hits at the plate and eight different Redbirds tallied a hit. Six different players scored a run.
After splitting the first two games, Illinois State and Indiana State will meet Sunday to finish the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT with a live audio broadcast available on GoRedbirds.com.
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