EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State softball team continued its offensive outburst and completed a sweep against Missouri Valley Conference foe, Evansville, with an 11-5 victory over the Purple Aces Sunday in Evansville, Indiana.
After scoring 14 runs and nine runs in the first two games, ISU was back for more on Sunday. With a stiff wind blowing out all game long, Evansville jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
ISU got a run back in the top of the second when Payton Billups launched a solo shot to right-centerfield. Redbird starter, Regan Romshek, then shut the Aces down in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the third, a pair of hits from Annie Heineman and Romshek along with a walk to Jordan de los Reyes, loaded the bases. Stephanie Gallant then drew a walk to drive in a run and tie the game at two. Later in the inning, Billups picked up her second RBI with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Evansville tied the game at three in the bottom of the third and Romshek was relieved by Sarah Finck.
Finck received four runs of support in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of Gallant. Lindsey Greene, Romshek, De los Reyes and Gallant all crossed the plate during the frame.
Finck cruised the rest of the way, allowing a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. The ISU offense answered every comeback attempt, though, scoring a run in the sixth and three in the seventh.
In the sixth, Romshek drilled a solo home run deep to leftfield and in the seventh she hit an RBI single. Billups also smacked a two-run homer to dead centerfield to put an exclamation point on the day and the series.
Finck picked up her sixth win of the season after throwing five innings, scattering four hits and two earned runs. She is now 6-1 on the season.
ISU scored 34 runs in the series and hit seven doubles and seven home runs this weekend. The Redbirds advance to 7-2 in the MVC and 16-18 overall.
The Redbirds will now face Illinois Tuesday in Champaign. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. and a live audio broadcast will be available on GoRedbirds.com.
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