TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – In a wild back-and-forth affair, Illinois State's Kelsey Turczyn played the role of hero, blasting a three-run game-winning home run in the seventh to help ISU to a 10-9 victory over Indiana State Sunday in Terre Haute, Indiana.
With the series tied at one, the Redbirds jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Annie Heineman led the game off with a single and stole second base. She was moved to third on a groundout and then driven home by a Stephanie Gallant sacrifice fly.
Indiana State answered back with two runs to take the lead in the bottom of the frame and a third run was cut down at the plate on a perfect throw from Kelsey Turczyn in left. The Sycamores then got to ISU starter Sarah Finck in the bottom of the second. Five of the first six hitters for Indiana State singled as the Sycamores moved from station-to-station, building on their lead. Four runs crossed the plate to push the lead to 6-1.
Down five, the Redbirds began to chip away at the Sycamore lead. The home run, which had been used so effectively on during Saturday's doubleheader, came up big again. Lindsey Greene led off the top of the third with a single and Heineman followed her with a two-run shot high and long to right-centerfield. Jordan de los Reyes then walked and with two outs, Riley Strandgard launched her fourth homer of the season, a no-doubter that pulled ISU within one.
In the circle, Regan Romshek entered in relief and settled in, shutting down the Sycamores in innings three-through-five. Romshek then helped herself out in the top of the fifth, doubling to lead off the inning. Strandgard then singled her in to tie the game at six.
Back and forth the teams went and in the bottom of the sixth Indiana State retook the lead 7-6.
ISU entered the seventh needing one run to keep the game going. After Romshek drew a leadoff walk, De los Reyes hit a hot shot on the ground out to left. The ball went through the Indiana State leftfielder's legs and all the way to the fence. Romshek scored from first to tie the game at seven.
Strandgard then reached base and with two on and one out, Turczyn stepped into the box with a tie game. She clubbed a three-run homer to leftfield to give ISU a 10-7 lead. Turczyn had not hit a home run prior to this weekend, but leaves Terre Haute with two.
The Sycamores made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs to pull within one. However, with the tying run at second, Romshek induced a ground out to end the game and give ISU a 10-9 victory.
The win pushes ISU to 13-17 overall and 4-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. It's the second-straight weekend that the Redbirds have lost the series opening game and then won the final two.
ISU will now play a midweek game Wednesday at Marian Kneer Stadium against Northern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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