CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team traded big hits with Illinois Sunday in Champaign, Illinois, in game one of the teams' two games this fall.
ISU's offense started early as Annie Heineman reached on a leadoff single and scored on a two-run home run by Regan Romshek. Illinois answered back in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of its own to tie the game.
However, ISU's offense put the game away in the fourth inning with four runs on two hits. Allison Spence and Caitlyn Daly each walked and scored on RBI singles from Alex Caliva and Heineman, respectively. Both Caliva and Heineman would work their way around to score, giving ISU a, 6-2, lead.
The Redbirds put together five hits in the fifth and added three more runs to extend the lead to, 9-2. Riley Strandgard, Spence and Ali Domkuski each had a hit to start the inning and came around to score. Caliva hit a two-RBI double to put an exclamation point on the inning. The sophomore finished with three RBIs in the game.
Illinois answered back in the bottom of the frame with another run, but ISU got it right back in the top of the sixth when Jordan de los Reyes doubled and scored.
Illinois scored a run in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, but it was not enough as ISU picked up a, 10-4, win.
Romshek, Shannon Felde and Sarah Finck all pitched for the Redbirds and combined for nine hits, four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. Romshek started and threw the first four innings.
Due to weather, the second game of the doubleheader was canceled and will be made up Oct. 6.
ISU's fall season will feature four more games. The Redbirds will host Illinois Central College at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Barrington, Illinois, Oct. 4 to face DePaul. The Blue Demons defeated the Redbirds in a one-run game last season.
Oct. 6 will be the final game against Illinois. Illinois State then closes the fall campaign with a home doubleheader against Wisconsin Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
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