NORMAL, Ill. – Securing the fourth Missouri Valley sweep of the season, Illinois State downed Missouri State, 5-2 in the series finale at Marian Kneer Stadium on Sunday.
The Bears outhit the Redbirds 10-7, but crucial hits by Jordan de los Reyes and Allison Spence gave the home team the advantage. Riley Strandgard logged her second-multi hit game of the weekend, while the trio of Riley Hale, Caitlyn Daly, and Annie Heineman logged the final three hits. Three Bears tallied two hits apiece in their 10-hit effort.
Leading the conference, Illinois State sits a 27-17 overall with a 17-3 Valley mark – the most wins in the MVC since 2014. Missouri State falls to 22-19 on the season, 10-10 in conference.
Both teams threatened in the first with runners in scoring position, but the board remained scoreless until the fourth inning.
The Bears posted four hits before the Redbirds' responded with their first in the fourth inning. Strandgard led off with a single up the middle before Heineman put down a bunt for another single. Daly advanced the runners on a well-placed sac-bunt.
For the second time in the game, the Bears' pitchers tossed an intentional walk. However, this time was not successful as Shannon Felde drew a four-pitch RBI-walk. With the bases still loaded, de los Reyes sent a two-run blooper to left. Spence finalized the Redbirds' scoring in the fourth with a double to the center field warning track, for the 4-0 lead.
Missouri State responded with back-to-back singles to threaten in the fifth; however, the Redbirds' defense held the Bears scoreless. Continuing to fight, Missouri State made it interesting in the sixth with four hits, including a two-run single by Olivia Roark.
The Redbirds answered back with two singles, including a Spence RBI-single to up the Redbirds' lead to 5-2.
The Bears threatened in the seventh with single down the left line, but the Redbirds' defense held them off to clinch their 11th consecutive Valley win and fourth sweep of the season.
Sarah Finck threw her 27th complete game of the season, upping her record to 18-8. Missouri State's Holly Kelley took the loss with each of the Bears' pitchers making an appearance in the circle.
On Tuesday, the Redbirds will play for the series sweep at Bradley at 4 p.m. in Peoria, Illinois. Looking ahead, Illinois State travels to Evansville on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series. Â
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