NORMAN, Okla. – The Illinois State softball team (9-16) played its ninth game against a ranked opponent on Sunday to close the Oklahoma Tournament, falling 8-0 in six innings to the No. 5 tournament host Sooners (19-2).
Starting pitcher Sarah Finck and the Redbird defense went to work early against Oklahoma. The Sooners were able to register a hit in the first inning, but a throw from catcher Lauren Prader behind the plate to Alex Caliva at second base caught the runner trying to steal. A fly out in foul territory to Riley Strandgard, followed by a strikeout from Finck, sent the ball game to the second inning scoreless by both sides.
Finck registered another pair of strikeouts in the second inning, to go along with a ground out, to send the Sooners down in order. Oklahoma pushed a single through the left side to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. A major catch in right field by Riley Hale only allowed one more Sooner to touch home despite having two runners in scoring position. The Sooners tacked on two more runs before the Redbirds could escape the inning, holding the four-run advantage going into the fourth.
Oklahoma extended its lead in the bottom of the frame, etching a trio of runs to the board, before a ground out to third base ended the inning.
Junior Shannon Felde stepped into the circle for the Redbirds in the bottom of the fifth, sending Oklahoma down in order for the second time in the game with help from Illinois State's defense.
Oklahoma wouldn't allow Illinois State to start its offense, sending the Redbirds down in order for the first five innings. A one-out single through the left side by Alyssa Wiebel gave the Redbirds their first hit of the game in the top of the sixth. A two-out walk issued to Felde put a pair of base runners on for Illinois State, but the Redbirds were unable to scratch a run on the board going to the bottom of the frame. A single to left field secured the 8-0 win for the Sooners in the bottom of the inning.
Illinois State will continue its spring break trip with a pair of midweek games at Oklahoma State on Tuesday and Tulsa on Wednesday, before opening Missouri Valley Conference play at Missouri State next weekend.
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