DES MOINES, Iowa – A six-run fourth inning and a Sarah Finck one-hitter led Illinois State to a 10-2 victory over Drake for the Redbirds' third sweep of the season and first at Drake since 2007 on Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa.
"We put a total body of work together again today," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "We made better adjustments from day one to the pitching that we saw and had the six-run inning. There was great defense behind Sarah. She played a heck of a ball game, even having great plays herself"
The Valley-leading Redbirds logged 10 hits at the plate, highlighted by Riley Strandgard and Annie Heineman both hitting 3-for-3 and a Jordan de los Reyes home run. Holding the Bulldogs to one hit, Illinois State improves to 22-17 on the season, 12-3 in Valley play. Drake falls to 20-22, 3-12 in the MVC.
Finck tossed her third win of the weekend and 17th complete game for her first career one-hitter on Saturday without a single earned run.
"Honestly, I had no idea," Finck said. "There was quick defense behind me who made great plays in the gaps to help earn the win."
Finck's one-hitter is her first and the first for the Redbirds since 2013 when Regan Romshek threw one against No. 14 USF on Feb. 24, 2013.
The group of de los Reyes, Heineman, Caitlyn Daly, and Alex Caliva drove in two runs apiece in Illinois State's 22nd win of the season.
The Redbirds' momentum continued into the series finale, plating three runs in the first inning. Allison Spence played the first run on a sac-fly to center before a pair of Strandgard and Heineman RBI-singles drove in the final two runs.
The Bulldogs responded with a pair of unearned runs off a Gabbie Jonas single in the second inning, but that would be the end of the home team's attack in the contest.
In the third inning, Illinois State quickly answered back on a walk and another pair of hits by Strandgard and Heineman, upping the score to 4-2.
The Redbirds continued to dominate, plating six runs on six hits to take a 10-2 lead in the fourth inning. De los Reyes rocketed her 47th career home run to left-center for the first two runs of the inning. The Strandgard – Heineman duo singled again before Daly lined a two-run single through the right side. A Caliva two-run double to the centerfield warning track finalized the fourth inning scoring. Â
The Bulldogs showed their fight, making contact with 14 outs minus a lone strikeout. However, the Redbirds earned the 10-2 win in five innings.
Drake's Aryka Knoche took the loss in 3.1 innings with Abby Buie closing out the ballgame.
The Redbirds return home on Wednesday, April 19 to Pack the Park versus Bradley with a 5 p.m. doubleheader. Illinois State remains home to host Missouri State on April 22 and 23.
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