TEMPE, Ariz. – After trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Alex Caliva hit her third career home run – a three-run game-winning shot over the center field wall – to help the Redbirds (3-5) open day two of the Littlewood Classic with the 3-2 victory over San Diego (6-3) and the two-game sweep of the Toreros.
"It was a very exciting game for us," ISU head coach Melinda Fischer shared. "It was good to see us come back and get people on base, with the hit from Alex (Caliva) paying off. We struggled to get on base to begin with, but Allison (Spence) had a great eye. They weren't giving her anything to hit and she was patient enough to wait for the walks. We asked people when they got off the bench to give us something, and Riley (Phipps) came into the game and did just that with her big double. It was just nice to see people step up and do what they were supposed to do."
Senior Sarah Finck went back to work in the circle for the Redbirds, giving up just one run on five hits through five innings. Freshman Morgan Day earned her first career victory, after taking over for Finck in the top of the sixth and giving up just one run and a walk on one hit.
"On the pitching side of things, Sarah (Finck) and Morgan (Day) did really well for us," Fischer continued. "Only allowing one walk the entire game was good to see after we were plagued last year with walks. For those two to come in and take care of business was great. I felt our defense also stepped up and helped us stay in the ball game."
San Diego drilled a pair of doubles in the top of the fifth inning to put the Toreros out in front 1-0. Infielder Allison Spence drew her second lead-off walk in the bottom half to get on base for the Redbirds. Abby Turczyn came in to pinch run and a sac bunt by Riley Strandgard advanced Turczyn to second base. With one out, Caliva singled to right field, and advanced to second on the throw, to put the pair of Redbirds in scoring positon but the two would ultimately be left stranded.
A solo shot over the center field wall by the Toreros in the top of the sixth gave San Diego the 2-0 advantage going into the seventh inning. After Day and the defense sent the Toreros down in order, Spence drew her third lead-off walk of the game to start Illinois State's rally. Freshman Ashley Emert entered the game to pinch run for Spence and a no-out single to centerfield by Strandgard put two on-base for the Redbirds.
A Torero wild pitch advanced the runners before Caliva's third career home run helped Illinois State complete the two-game sweep of San Diego in walk-off fashion.
Illinois State will face the nationally ranked Sun Devils this evening before closing out the Littlewood Classic against North Dakota on Sunday at 10 a.m.
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