NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team kicked off its fall exhibition season with a 10-1 win over the alumni in the annual alumni game Sunday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
"It was amazing to have so many alumni return," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "It's always fun to get together with everybody again and it's great preparation for our younger kids. We have so many new faces and we saw great things from several people."
Despite multiple baserunners, both teams were held scoreless in the first two frames. In the top of the third, the alumni pushed its only run across to take a 1-0 lead. Lauren Prader quickly erased the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Three walks in a row led to two more ISU runs and the Redbirds led, 3-1, at the end of the fourth.
The offense continued in the bottom of the fifth as Annie Heineman walked and Parker Bandy drove her in with a single. Bandy later came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Prader to extend the Redbirds' lead to 5-1.
ISU's pitching ensured the lead was safe as Veronique Johnson and Shannon Felde combined for five strikeouts and no hits allowed in three innings of work.
Late in the game, ISU tacked on four more runs with two in the seventh and two in the ninth.
Caitlyn Daly led the way for ISU, finishing 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Prader finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs while Bandy and Abby Turczyn also drove in one run apiece.
"We need the sophomores to take a jump," said Fischer. "We want that group to continue to develop and Caitlyn and Lauren really stepped up Sunday."
ISU's pitching was dominant throughout as the alumni managed only three hits. Five ISU pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and one earned run.
The Redbirds now shift their attention to the fall season, which will feature eight games. ISU will host Lake Land College on Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. before welcoming Illinois Central College to town for a single game Sept. 18.
On Sept. 23, ISU will host crosstown Heartland College at 6:30 p.m. before finishing the week with a doubleheader in Champaign against Illinois. The Fighting Illini defeated ISU on a walk-off home run during the 2015 season.
ISU will make their last trip of the fall on Oct. 4 when they travel to Barrington, Illinois, to face DePaul. The Blue Demons defeated ISU in a one-run game last season.
Illinois State closes the fall campaign with a home doubleheader at 1 p.m. against Wisconsin Oct. 10.
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