BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Solidified by Sarah Finck's fourth complete game of the season, the Illinois State softball team shutout Wright State on Friday morning, 3-0. Jordan de los Reyes' first home run of the season secured the win, improving the Redbirds' record to 4-5 and dropping the Raiders to 2-4.
The Redbirds struck early in the third inning on a single and a sac fly before de los Reyes crushed the final run in the three-run win.
Finck earned the win in her first shutout game of the season with five strikeouts. Wright State's Ashley Sharp took the loss.
Finck began the game with a pair of batters in the first. Alyssa Wiebel drew a walk to put the Redbirds on base in the bottom of the frame. Finck matched the first inning with another pair of strikeouts in the second.
Allison Spence recorded the Redbirds premiere hit of the game with a leadoff single through the right side before a pair of fly-outs ended the second.
Illinois State's momentum continued into the third inning, plating two runs. Abby Turczyn drew a leadoff walk in the third before Kori Mesecher sent a bunt double through the left side, putting the Redbirds in scoring position. Riley Hale drove in the first run on an RBI-single. Mesecher came home on a Riley Strandgard sac fly, giving the Redbirds a 2-0 lead at the end of the third.
De los Reyes led off the fourth with a double to right center. Caitlyn Daly knocked one down the left line to put Redbirds on the corners. Turczyn took the pitch to load the bases. However, the Raiders' Ashton Salyers stranded the runners with a diving play in left-center.
The Redbirds escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth before de los Reyes rocketed her first home run of the season, well past the left-center fence.
The Raiders showed their fight, out-hitting the Redbirds 8-6 and leaving nine on base. However, Illinois State followed through and closed out the game to earn its fourth win of the season.
Illinois State resumes action this afternoon versus Austin Peay at 1:30 p.m. at Buchanon Park.
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