GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Going into the seventh inning, Illinois State (4-10) trailed Iowa State (8-6), 5-1, but the Redbirds were able to battle back to come within one run of the Cyclones before a close call at first put Illinois State's comeback to a halt.
After the Redbirds were sent down in order to start the game, Sarah Finck stepped into the circle for Illinois State. The senior punched out two Cyclones before a ground out to Alex Caliva at second base ended the first inning. Iowa State's first hit of the game came in the second inning, but Finck's third strikeout of the game left the Cyclone runner stranded.
Newcomer Andrea Coursey – who got her first collegiate start at third base – hit a lead-off triple in the third down the right field line, but the next three Redbirds went down in order to keep the game knotted at zero. In the bottom of the inning, a Cyclone made her way to third base, but a ground out to Riley Strandgard kept Iowa State off the board.
Caliva dropped a single into centerfield to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Illinois State. First baseman Allison Spence followed by getting on base with an issued walk. A bunt by Strandgard scratched a run on the board for the Redbirds, as Caliva touched home plate to give Illinois State the 1-0 advantage.
The Cyclones responded with a trio of runs to take a 3-1 lead after four innings of play. Junior utility player Shannon Felde drew a two-out walk in the top of the fifth, but couldn't make it off first base, while Iowa State added a fourth run in the bottom of the frame.
In the sixth, Alyssa Wiebel drew a two-out walk and advanced to third on a single by Lauren Prader to right field, putting runners on the corners for Illinois State. The Redbirds were unable to scratch one across, bringing Felde to the circle to take over pitching duties in the bottom of the inning. Iowa State tacked on one more run in the sixth to hold the four-run lead going into the final frame for the Redbirds.
Illinois State drew back-to-back walks to lead off the seventh to put base runners on for the Redbirds. A single into left field by Felde juiced the bases and forced a pitching change by the Cyclones. The first pitch sent into Caliva hit the senior, helping the Redbirds cut into Iowa State's lead. A sac fly to right field by Spence brought Illinois State within two runs with just a single out. A fielder's choice to get Caliva out at second brought the Redbirds within one, but a close call at first in the next at-bat crushed Illinois State's comeback to give the Cyclones the game, 5-4.
The Redbirds will close out the Aquafina Invitational on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. against Maryland.
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