TEMPE, Ariz. – One day after losing 17-6, the Illinois State softball team avenged its loss by beating Montana, 5-4, Saturday morning at Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona. In the nightcap, the Redbirds fell to No. 17 Arizona State, 6-0. The split gives ISU a record of 3-6 on the season.
Illinois State is 2-2 on the weekend and will close the Littlewood Classic Sunday morning against Michigan State. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.
Game 1: Illinois State 5 – Montana 4
The Redbirds received another complete game outing from Sarah Finck in the circle, and Finck was aided by an offense that crushed four solo home runs.
One day after hitting her first career home run, Riley Hale hit a solo shot in the top of the first to give the Redbirds an early lead. Montana answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Finck walked the leadoff hitter in the inning, which was one of only three walks in the game.
In the second inning, the Redbirds relied on power again as Allison Spence and Payton Billups hit back-to-back home runs to start the inning. Spence's home run was her second of the season and Billups' was her first.
Once again, Montana answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, but Finck was able to work out of a jam to end the inning and leave runners at first and third. ISU tacked on another run in the top of the third as Jordan de los Reyes hit her fourth home run of the season.
Leading 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Finck surrendered two singles to start the inning and both runners would work their way around the bases to score and tie the game. However, Finck's offense helped her out again in the top of the fifth.
Kaitlyn Knary laid down a bunt single to begin the inning and Annie Heineman moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Hale then stepped up and doubled into the gap to give ISU the lead, 5-4.
Finck handled the rest, shutting out the Grizzlies for the final three innings to secure the Redbird win. With the win, Finck is now 3-2 on the season. She pitched all seven innings and gave up three earned runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking three.
Hale led the offense, finishing 2-for-4 for two RBIs and a run scored. De los Reyes also finished 2-for-4 while Spence and Billups each recorded two hits as well.
Game 2: Arizona State 6 – Illinois State 0
The 17th ranked Sun Devils received a stellar outing in the circle from Kelsey Kessler and scored six runs on 10 hits to down Illinois State in the nightcap Saturday night.
Arizona State scored one run in the first inning after an ISU error, but Redbird starter Ali Domkuski worked out of three-straight jams in the first three innings in which she recorded the third out with runners in scoring position.
Domkuski was able to keep the Redbirds within one run for the first three innings, but ISU managed just one hit in the span. In the bottom of the fourth, ASU's Sashel Palacios crushed a pinch hit two-run homer to right field to extend ISU's lead to three.
The Redbirds collected their second hit of the game in the fifth inning, but were unable to score. Arizona State tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and held ISU in the seventh to secure a 6-0 victory.
Domkuski took the loss despite a strong five innings of work in which she scattered 10 hits and allowed five earned runs. The freshman struck out four and walked five. Regan Romshek finished the final inning in the circle and also tallied one of ISU's two hits. Riley Strandgard recorded the other.
Kessler pitched a complete game and allowed two hits while striking out 12 and walking none. She threw 94 pitches for the game and faced 23 batters.
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