BATON ROUGE, La. – The Illinois State softball team (8-12) shut out its second opponent of the season on Sunday, topping Purdue, 2-0, to close the LSU Tiger Classic.
The Redbirds – who served as the visitors against the Boilermakers for the second time – went back to work early Sunday morning. Junior Shannon Felde was issued a lead-off walk and was able to steal second, but was left stranded in the opening half inning. Freshman Morgan Day went back to work in the circle for Illinois State, earning her fifth start of the season. With the help of the Redbird defense, the Boilermakers were sent down in order.
In the second inning, Riley Hale sent a lead-off single into centerfield. Catcher Brittni LaFountaine reached first base on a fielding error by Purdue's shortstop, as Hale charged home to scratch Illinois State's first run on the board.
Illinois State sent the Boilermakers down in order in the bottom of the second and Purdue returned the favor in the top of the third. A pair of putouts and a ground out to Alex Caliva in the bottom of the frame helped Illinois State put Purdue away for the third-straight inning.
Both teams loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but couldn't scratch a run across to help the Redbirds keep a 1-0 lead going into the fifth. Allison Spence hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left stranded. Day and the defense continued to work in the bottom of the fifth, sending the Boilermakers down in order.
Illinois State went hitless in the sixth, while two Purdue runners made it on base. The next three Boilermakers popped up to remain scoreless going into the final inning of play.
Pinch hitter Riley Phipps entered the game and was dealt a walk to lead off the seventh. Stephanie Thulen reentered to run for the Redbirds, making it all to third on a wild pitch before a single to centerfield by Caliva brought the sophomore home to put Illinois State ahead 2-0.
A catch at the wall by Caitlyn Daly in left field kept Purdue off the board in the first at-bat of the inning and the Redbirds' defense stood firm to complete the two-game sweep of the Boilermakers.
Illinois State will travel to back-to-back National Champion Oklahoma next weekend to close preseason tournament action at the Oklahoma Tournament, where the Redbirds will face the Sooners and Indiana twice while playing a single game against South Carolina in the five-game set.
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