NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State needed one win on the final day of the NISC Regional at Marian Kneer Stadium on Thursday. Led by the Redbirds' 16-hit day and two complete-games in the circle, Illinois State earned the 6-0 shutout over Michigan State in game two to advance to the NISC Championship.
The Redbirds began both games with home runs by Alyssa Wiebel and Allison Spence in games one and two, respectively. The early two-run lead in the premier game of the day was not enough, as Michigan State would walk off with the 4-3 win. However, Spence's home run in the second matchup sparked Illinois State's offense to put up six unanswered runs for a first career shutout victory in the circle for Ali Domkuski.
Spence, Wiebel, and Michigan State's Ebonee Echols logged two hits apiece in game one. Jordan de los Reyes and Riley Strandgard tallied two each in the second game with Spence plating three of the Redbirds' five runs.
The Redbirds (33-22) move on to the NISC championship round May 21 through 24 at a site yet to be determined, while the Spartans' season comes to an end with a 34-24 record.
Game One: L, 4-3
Spence opened up the second inning with a single through the right side. The runner, Stephanie Thulen, advanced on an MSU illegal pitch. After a pair of called strikes, Wiebel cleared the bases on her eighth home run of the season, giving the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.
Michigan State knotted up the NISC regional final on a double and Redbird miscue for the 2-2 ballgame.
The Redbirds responded with back-to-back singles through the infield by Strandgard and Wiebel, but the pair could not come home.
After back-to-back walks by Alex Caliva and Shannon Felde, de los Reyes laced an RBI-single through the left side, giving the Redbirds a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
The Spartans bounced back, tying it up on a Lexi White RBI-double in the sixth inning. Spence responded with a single in the top of the seventh but she could not come across.
Michigan State clinched the walk off with an Echol's RBI-double for the 4-3 win.
Sarah Finck tossed her 27th complete game, taking the loss while the Spartans' starter Kristina Zalewski earned the win in 5.0 innings.
Game Two: W, 6-0
The Redbirds struck first to begin the game, taking a 2-0 lead in the premier inning. De los Reyes set the stage with a single to left before Spence launched her seventh home run of the season over the left field fence for the early advantage.
In the third, Riley Hale singled to right before a pair of walks loaded the bases. However, the Redbirds could not extend their lead. Coming in to hit, Riley Phipps rocketed a double to the right-center warning track in the fourth.
Illinois State opened up the fifth with four-straight hits to take a 5-0 lead. De los Reyes and Strandgard sent doubles to the outfield for the first two runs. Wiebel finalized the inning's scoring with an RBI-single to left before a groundout ended the frame. Spence plated the final run for Illinois State on a bases-loaded RBI-walk after a Caliva single and Michigan State miscue.
The Spartans threatened in the seventh with runners on first and second on a pair of singles by Kaitlyn Eveland and Lexi White, but the Redbirds' perfect defense held them off.
Domkuski tossed her fifth complete game of the season for the 6-0 win. Michigan State's starter, Kristina Zalewski took the loss.
The Redbirds await the NISC Championship location for their games beginning on Sunday, May 21.
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