CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Despite home run and two runners in scoring position in the seventh inning, Illinois State came up short at Illinois on Wednesday night, dropping the midweek contest, 5-3 at Eichelberger Field.
Riley Hale led the Redbirds with two hits, including a home run. Doubling in the seventh, Shannon Felde extended her hitting streak to 16 games and on-base streak to 18 games. Illinois State dips to 15-14 on the season while Illinois extended its winning streak to nine games, improving to 23-8.
The home team struck first on a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning. Illinois plated a third run on an Illinois State miscue in the second.
The Redbirds strung together a trio of singles by Alex Caliva, Hale, and Riley Strandgard before Felde knocked in the first run on a fielder's choice. A second run scored on a wild pitch, upping the score to two.
Illinois responded with a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the inning. The Redbird showed their fight on an Annie Heineman single, followed by an error, and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Strandgard battled through 12 pitches at the plate before a strikeout ended the side.
After three scoreless innings, Hale belted her third home run of the season, cutting the Redbirds' deficit to two. Strandgard reached safe on an Illinois miscue before Felde doubled to left-center, putting runners in scoring position and extending her hitting streak to 16 games. However, Illinois' ace Breanna Wonderly secured the win with two quick outs.
Starting pitcher Sarah Finck took the loss in 2.0 complete innings. The Redbirds closed out the game with the committee of Veronique Johnson, Ali Domkuski, and Felde in the circle. Felde tossed two strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth for a 1-2-3 inning. Illinois' Taylor Edwards earned the win with Wonderly picking up the save.
After 29 games away from home, the Redbirds will open their home slate on April 1 and 2 at Marian Kneer Stadium, hosting Southern Illinois.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter and Instagram.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
