NORMAL, Ill. – In come-from-behind, extra-inning fashion, Illinois State secured the home-opening win in walk-off fashion before coming up short in game two to Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Scoring five runs via two home runs on two outs in the seventh, the Redbirds clinched the come-from-behind, 8-7 win in extra innings. Despite home runs by the Redbird seniors, Southern Illinois showed their fight in the nightcap with two dominant innings that Illinois State could not overcome for the 12-7 final decision.
The Redbirds amassed 21 hits in the twin bill with the Salukis collecting 23 in the offensive affair on Saturday. Shannon Felde extended her hitting streak to 18 games and on-base streak to 20, without a strikeout on the season. Jordan de los Reyes tallied two home runs on the day to tie for third all-time with 43 home runs while accumulating 153 RBIs now ranking third in career RBIs.
The Redbirds hold a 17-16 overall mark while the Salukis sit at 16-14. The two teams share the top spot in MVC play with a 6-2 record and will play the rubber match on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Game One: W, 8-7 (8 inn.)
De los Reyes led the Redbirds thrilling offense with a three-run home run in the seventh inning to go 3-for-5 on the day with four RBIs. Allison Spence belted three hits with an RBI while Felde recorded two hits, scoring once in the home opener.
The Redbirds jumped to an early lead in the first inning in their 2017 home opener. Felde extended her hitting streak to 17 games before Spence drove in Illinois State's first run of the game.
Southern Illinois responded by taking a two-run lead in the third inning. The Salukis strung together a pair of balls and a pair of RBI-singles, upping the score to 3-1 in favor of the visitors.
In the fifth, Illinois State escaped a bases-loaded jam on a double play by the trio of Alex Caliva, de los Reyes, and Alyssa Wiebel and a foul fly to Spence. Caliva's momentum continued into the bottom of the frame with a leadoff single but the Redbirds could not convert.
The Salukis knocked in a pair of solo shots to left, then right field in the sixth. Spence responded with a leadoff double to centerfield to begin the bottom of the frame. Taylor Vanderpool ran at second and would come around to score on an Annie Heineman infield-single.
Riley Hale drew a walk before Felde singled in the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for de los Reyes' 42nd career home run. Spence doubled for the second time in the game as Wiebel launched her fourth home run of the season to right field, knotting up the game at seven runs apiece to send the game to extras.
With two runners on via walks, de los Reyes clinched the walk-off win for the Redbirds with an RBI-single through the right side for the 8-7 win in eight innings.
Starting pitcher Sarah Finck tossed 4.0 complete innings before Felde subbed in for the flex, earning the win in 4.0 innings.
Game Two: L, 12-7
Spence led the Redbirds' offense with two hits and three RBI, totaling three for the day. De los Reyes accounted for two runs on her 43rd career home run with Heineman belted her first home run of the season.
The Salukis plated four runs in the third inning, sparking a pitching change that brought in Veronique Johnson. The visitors' momentum continued with a five-run fourth inning that brought in Morgan Christner to close the frame.
Strandgard singled to lead off the fourth followed by a Felde single and a de los Reyes walk to load the bases. A pass ball plated one run before a Spence two-run double to left upped the score to three for the Redbirds.
In the fifth, the Redbirds plated two more on de los Reyes' 43rd career home run, driving in two for career RBIs 152 and 153 to rank third in program history.
Southern Illinois responded with a two-run home run in the sixth. Heineman answered back for the Redbirds with a solo-shot to right field during the home half.
Spence plated her third RBI of the game in the bottom of the seventh but strikeout and fielder's choice clinched the win for the Salukis.
The game two starter, Ali Domkuski, took the loss in 2.2 innings of work. Johnson tossed one out with Christner closing out the final 4.0 innings, hurling two strikeouts.
The Redbirds and Salukis will conclude the series on Sunday at 11 a.m. Illinois State continues its home stand on Wednesday at 5 p.m. versus DePaul.
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