NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State (17-23, 8-5 MVC) scored a pair of runs in back-to-back innings to overcome the visiting Evansville Purple Aces (11-26, 4-10 MVC) in the series finale at Marian Kneer Stadium on Saturday.
A two-out single to left field helped Evansville jump on the board in the top of the first inning. Illinois State responded in the bottom of the frame, getting a pair of runners on base but were unable to scratch a run across. Another two-out single by the Purple Aces in the top of the second, to go with a stolen base, moved the base runner into scoring position, but the Redbirds' defense kept Evansville from extending its lead.
In the top of the third, a lead-off double to left center field brought Ali Domkuski to the circle for the Redbirds. The junior gave up a double down the right field line to the first batter she faced, but struck out three Purple Aces to get out of the frame after Evansville jumped out to a two-run lead.
Riley Phipps was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the third before catcher Lauren Prader tallied the Redbirds' first hit of the game in the next at-bat to put two on base. A sac bunt by Riley Hale moved the pair of runners into scoring position, but Evansville stood firm to get out of jam.
The Purple Aces reached base in the top of the fourth on an Illinois State error and a fielder's choice, but Domkuski's fifth strikeout of the game kept Evansville from advancing any further. In the bottom of the fifth, Caitlyn Daly singled up the middle to lead-off and start the Redbirds' fifth-inning rally. A two-out double down the right field line by Hale put the pair of runners into scoring position. A single up the middle by Alex Caliva brought Phipps across home plate to put Illinois State on the board. An Evansville wild pitch pushed Hale across home plate to knot the game at two-all.
For the second-straight inning, Domkuski and the Redbird defense sent the Purple Aces down in order in the top of the sixth. After being down 0-2 in the count, Shannon Felde was issued a lead-off walk to continue Illinois State's momentum. Riley Strandgard followed with a single through the left side to put two on. Back-to-back wild pitches advanced the runners and brought Felde across home plate before an error by Evansville's catcher pushed the Redbirds out to a 4-2 lead.
A lead-off single by Evansville in the top of the seventh brought the tying run to the plate. A double down the right field line put a pair of Purple Ace runners in scoring position, bringing Morgan Day to the circle. Domkuski gave up just four hits in 4.1 innings of work while holding Evansville without a run or a walk to go with a career-best nine strikeouts.
The freshman stepped into the circle to relieve her teammate and struck out a Purple Ace before giving up a walk. A fly out to Daly in left field helped the Redbirds win their seventh game in a row and improve to 8-5 in Valley play, giving Day her second save of the season. Domkuski captured the win for Illinois State – her second on the year.
Up Next
Illinois State will make the quick drive up Interstate 74 on April 18 for a midweek doubleheader at Bradley beginning at 3:30 p.m. before hosting the league-leading Drake Bulldogs on April 21-22. The Redbirds' pair of contests against the Braves will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3. Illinois State will make its debut on ESPN+ - the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer and International group in partnership with ESPN.
About ESPN+
Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launching on Thursday, April 12, ESPN+ subscribers will receive thousands of additional live events, original shows and films, and an on-demand library, which is not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ will not include access to stream ESPN's existing linear networks and ESPN3.
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