BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Led by Ali Domkuski in the circle and a balanced Redbird offense, the Illinois State softball team held Austin Peay to a mere two hits in the 7-2 win on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Hitting in every inning, the Redbirds struck first with one run in the first before tacking on four in the fourth. The Governors responded with a pair of runs in the sixth but Illinois State quickly nullified those in the seventh for the 7-2 win.
With a single-game career high of nine strikeouts, Domkuski tossed her first complete game of the season, allowing a mere two hits – one in the first and the other in the seventh innings. Despite gusty winds, Illinois State earned the win, improving to 5-5 with Austin Peay falling to 3-2 on the season.
In the first inning, Alyssa Wiebel slugged a double down the right line before Allison Spence put the Redbirds on the board early, sending an RBI-single to right to plate one run. Domkuski quickly went to work, striking out the first two batters of the frame.
The Redbirds picked up where they left off as Caitlyn Daly drew a leadoff walk in the second before Kori Mesecher singled to center. Mesecher stole second before a fly-out closed out the inning. In the third, Spence knocked her second hit of the day to right-center before a groundout ended the frame.
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Redbirds upped the score 5-0 in the fourth. Abby Turczyn singled through the right side to leadoff. Mesecher capitalized on a Governor's error, putting runners in scoring position, before Wiebel walked to load the bases. Riley Strandgard drew another walk, upping the Redbirds' score to two. Spence drove in one more on a sac-fly to left before Jordan de los Reyes rocketed a triple to center, scoring two.
Daly singled through the left side to begin the fifth before Turczyn advanced her on a sac bunt. Mesecher beat out the throw to take first but a fly-out ended the frame.
On her second extra-base hit of the day, de los Reyes kept the Redbirds' offense hot with a double to left-center in the sixth before Taylor Vanderpool came into run. The strong winds aided Austin Peay's defense to end the frame with on a pop-up to second.
The Governors drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth – Austin Peay's first base runner since the first inning. The Governors plated two runs on a pair of sac-flies, upping the score to 5-2.
Daly knocked her second single of the day to left before both Turczyn and Mesecher took advantage of a pair of Austin Peay errors. Both Turczyn and pinch runner Stephanie Thulen came home to up the Redbirds' total to seven.
Austin Peay's Kendall Vedder broke up the one-hitter in the sixth inning with a single down-the left line. However, Domkuski's eighth and ninth strikeouts clinched the 7-2 win.
The Redbirds wrap up the Hilltopper Spring Fling versus IUPUI on Saturday at 10 a.m.
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