NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team snapped a five-game losing streak in convincing fashion Wednesday, defeating Bradley 2-1 and 10-2 in a doubleheader at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Pitching was the story of game one as ISU's Sarah Finck and Bradley's Alyson Spinas-Valainis were locked in a pitchers' duel from the beginning. Both pitchers put zeroes on the board through the first three innings of play. Finck only allowed two baserunners in the first three frames while Spinas-Valainis allowed just one.
Finck blanked the Braves in the fourth inning and her offense offered support in the bottom of the inning. Jordan de los Reyes led off the inning with a double and two batters later, Riley Strandgard doubled to drive her in.
Finck continued to cruise, holding Bradley scoreless in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the sixth ISU added one more run as De los Reyes doubled and came around to score again.
The extra run proved useful as Bradley broke through against Finck in the seventh, scoring one run. It was not enough though, as the ISU freshman tossed a complete game, six-hit gem. The win was Finck's eighth of the season and she gave up one earned run while striking out five and walking two.
Spinas-Valainis was great as well, throwing six innings while allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out five.
The only ISU batter to have multiple hits off of Spinas-Valainis was De los Reyes. The sophomore finished game one 3-3 with two doubles and a run scored. Strandgard and Stephanie Gallant had the other two hits for ISU.
The Redbirds received more great pitching in game two from Regan Romshek. The only difference was that Romshek had plenty of run support.
The ISU offense set the tone early, loading the bases in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Redbirds could not push across a run as the first inning ended scoreless.
In the bottom of the second, ISU's offense put together a hit parade, sending 10 batters to the plate. Kelsey Turczyn led off with a walk and was later singled in by Lindsey Greene. Annie Heineman then singled in Greene and Romshek followed with a single of her own. With two on and one out, De los Reyes stepped in and defied the 20 mile per hour wind gusts coming in from the east, launching a three-run homer into the teeth of the wind.
ISU led 5-0 by the time the inning was finished and that was more than enough for Romshek. She allowed just four runners in the first three innings and gave up only one hit.
In the bottom of the third, ISU's offense was at it again. Kara Repp led off with a single and Greene followed with a two-run homer, her second of the season. Later in the inning, De los Reyes singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch and home on a wild pitch on two consecutive plays.
Trailing 8-0, Bradley's offense rallied in the top of the fourth, plating two runs. Shannon King hit a two-run home run, her fourth hit of the day. King finished the afternoon 4-4 in the two games.
ISU got one run back in the bottom of the inning when Strandgard singled and later crossed the plate. In the bottom of the fifth, Romshek sent everyone home early with a solo home run to lead off the inning. The home run was Romshek's 12th homer of the season and gave ISU a 10-2 victory by run-rule.
In the circle, Romshek went five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs while striking out one and walking one. At the plate, she finished 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
De los Reyes was magnificent in both games, finishing 5-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
ISU is now 20-24 overall and 11-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds will turn their attention to an important weekend series against Missouri State. The Bears are currently one spot ahead of ISU in the MVC standings. The two teams will play two games Saturday and one on Sunday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
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