TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – With 26 hits between the pair of games, Illinois State topped Indiana State to complete the three-game sweep to open Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The three-game road sweep was the first for the Redbirds since 2015 at Evansville. It is also the best start to Valley play since 2010 when the Redbirds won 10 straight.
"It was an awesome weekend," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "We put three quality games together. There were great contributions all the way around. Defensively, we settled in nicely after the first inning of the first game. We had a few miscues in the third game but we got them corrected and it didn't cost us anything. Every time Indiana State got on the board, we answered which was good to see. We also had great pitching performances all the way around this weekend."
Jordan de los Reyes led the Redbirds, going 6-for-8 with seven RBIs, two walks, and a home run. Shannon Felde also drove in multiple RBI in the first game of the day while Allison Spence and Riley Hale did the same in game two. Also, Annie Heineman and Kori Mesecher both had multi-hit games in the doubleheader.
GAME ONE: W, 9-3
The Redbirds jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. After a pair of walks, de los Reyes drove in Illinois State's first run on an RBI-single to left. Spence tripled the score went she knocked the ball to center, allowing two runners to score on an Indiana State miscue. A Heineman single and a walk loaded the bases, but a popup ended the frame.
After an Ali Domkuski strikeout, Indiana State tallied two singles, but solid defense secured a shutout frame.
The Redbirds doubled the score in the third inning, driving in three runs on five singles. Heineman opened up the frame with a ball to center. Mesecher, Hale, and Riley Strandgard followed suit with consecutive singles. De los Reyes capped off the inning with the final RBI-single down the right-line.
However, the Sycamores tallied three runs of their own on two hits and a pair of Redbird miscues in the third inning.
Felde sent her first career home run to left-center, adding one more to the Redbirds' total in the sixth. Illinois State's strong hitting continued into the final inning as both Felde and Heineman logged RBI-singles, finalizing the score at 9-3.
Relief pitcher Veronique Johnson earned her first career win in 4.0 scoreless innings of work. Starter Domkuski went 3.0 innings, earning the no decision.
GAME TWO: W, 10-3
The Redbirds picked up where they left off, plating one run in the first. Spence sent the ball through the rights side, scoring Strandgard who drew a walk. De los Reyes singled in the frame but a pair of Redbirds were left on base.
Illinois State doubled its score in the second, taking a 2-0 lead. Caitlyn Daly was the first of three-straight hits with a double to left center. Alex Caliva's single through the left side put the Redbirds in scoring position as Hale drove in Daly on her second double of the season.
On a walk and four hits, the Redbirds took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. Caliva walked and Hale beat out the throw for a bunt-single, putting Illinois State in scoring position. Three consecutive RBI-singles by de los Reyes, Spence, and Felde upped the score to five.
The Sycamores tacked on two on a Brooke Mann two-run homer to left in the fourth.
Hale made it a four-run game in the fifth inning, lining an RBI-double to left field that allowed Taylor Vanderpool to cross the plate. In the sixth, de los Reyes rocketed her 41st career home run, upping the score to 7-2.
On her 4-for-5 day, de los Reyes knocked in the Redbirds final three runs on double down the right line in the seventh inning. The Sycamores showed their fight as Mary Turitto sent a solo shot to left, but it was not enough.
Sarah Finck tossed her second complete game of the weekend, improving to 9-6 on the season.
The Redbirds continue Valley play at Wichita State on March 25 for a noon doubleheader and a single game on March 26 at 11 a.m.
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