NORMAN, Okla. – The Illinois State softball team (9-15) went to work early against Indiana (4-17) in the first game of its doubleheader on the second day of the Oklahoma Tournament on Saturday, capturing the 6-1 victory before falling to No. 18/17 South Carolina.
GAME ONE: Illinois State 6, Indiana 1
The Hoosiers got a pair of runners on base in the top of the first inning, but a fielder's choice by Alex Caliva to get a Hoosier out at second base kept Indiana off the board. Designated player Shannon Felde was issued a walk to lead off for the Redbirds. After stealing second, fellow teammate Allison Spence was dealt a walk to force an early Indiana pitching change, who was able to help the Hoosiers escape the inning.
Indiana registered its first hit of the game in the top of the second, but back-to-back ground outs by the Redbird defense left the runner stranded. Freshman Andrea Coursey set the tone for Illinois State's offense in the bottom of the frame, leading off with a double down the left field line. Caitlyn Daly followed suit with a double of her own to bring Coursey across home and put the Redbirds on the board.
A no-out walk handed to Brittni LaFountaine put two Redbird runners back on base. A one-out double to left field by Felde brought Daly home and forced Indiana's second pitching chance of the game. In the next at-bat, Caliva launched a sac fly to right field to bring the third Redbird across home plate before Illinois State's fourth double of the inning – this time by Spence – put the Redbirds out in front, 4-0, at the end of the second.
Starting pitcher and reigning Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, Morgan Day, continued to go to work in the circle, registering her first strikeout of the game in the top of the third as the freshman and Redbird defense sent the Hoosiers down in order for the next three innings.
Illinois State added two more hits in the fifth – back-to-back two-out singles by LaFountaine and pinch hitter Riley Phipps – but the Redbirds were unable to extend its four-run lead heading into the sixth inning.
The Redbirds' bats continued to stay hot, as Riley Strandgard and Riley Hale hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. A single to left field by Coursey brought Strandgard home, while a single up the middle by Daly in the next at-bat sent Hale across home plate to give Illinois State the 6-0 lead going into the final frame.
A single up the middle by Indiana brought a Hoosier home, but a ground out to Strandgard at shortstop for the final out of the inning secured the 6-1 victory for the Redbirds. Illinois State's win over Indiana marks the fourth win over a Big Ten opponent this season.
GAME TWO: Illinois State 0, No. 18 South Carolina 9 (5 inn.)
Illinois State's bats were silenced in the second game, as the Redbirds were sent down in order for the first two innings against nationally-ranked South Carolina. A two-out single to right field brought home the first Gamecock, but a ground out to Riley Strandgard put the first inning to end.
A lead-off home run by South Carolina started offensive momentum for the Gamecocks, who would go on to scratch three more runs across to hold the four-run advantage going into the third inning.
Catcher Lauren Prader pushed a one-out single through the left side for Illinois State's first hit of the game in the top of the fourth, but was left stranded. Starting pitcher Sarah Finck and the Redbird defense gave up just a single hit in the bottom of the frame and kept the Gamecock on base to head to the fourth with a scoreless third inning by both sides.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, a fielding error by a Gamecock helped Strandgard reach first base. A bunt by Riley Hale – that caught South Carolina off guard – put two Redbird runners on, but neither could make it across home plate.
A five-run fourth inning by South Carolina helped the Gamecocks take the game, 9-0, in five over Illinois State. The Redbirds have now played eight games against nationally-ranked opponents this season and still have more on the slate.
Illinois State will conclude the Oklahoma Tournament on Sunday against the No. 5 Sooners at approximately 4 p.m.
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