NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team (18-24, 9-6 MVC) battled back to take game one of Thursday's doubleheader at Bradley (16-24, 5-9 MVC) to win its eighth-straight game, before the Braves responded to win the second game, 6-3, despite the Redbirds' seventh inning rally.
Game One: ISU 3, BU 2
Junior Allison Spence knocked a two-out single to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error by the left fielder to start Illinois State's bats. In the next at-bat, Shannon Felde was issued a four-pitch walk, but Bradley's defense held the Redbirds off the board. Starting pitcher Sarah Finck struck out the lead-off batter in back-to-back innings, including a three-straight strikeout second inning to hold Bradley off base.
Bradley worked a 1-2-3 third inning and Finck and the Redbird defense responded in the next two frames, sending the Braves down in order. In the top of the fourth inning, Spence led off with a double to deep right centerfield for her second hit of the game and second hit of the day for Illinois State. Pinch runner Stephanie Thulen subbed into the game and stole third base, before Felde, who was issued her second walk, stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Bradley made a play at the plate to keep the Redbirds from scoring, but a two-out single to left field by Alyssa Wiebel brought Felde across home plate to put Illinois State on the board.
Catcher Lauren Prader dropped a one-out single into short centerfield for her first hit of the game, but was unable to make it off of first base. Bradley opened the bottom of the fifth with a single, followed by a home run over the left field wall, to take a 2-1 lead over the Redbirds. The Braves attempted to extend their lead but a throw from Caitlyn Daly in left field to Prader at the plate kept Bradley at ease.
Spence was hit by a pitch to start the sixth inning to put a runner on base for the Redbirds. Another two-out single by Wiebel put a pair on for Illinois State, before a double to left center field by Daly brought the duo home to put the Redbirds back out in front, 3-2. Finck and the Redbird defense bounced back in the bottom of the sixth, sending the Braves down in order for the fourth time in the game.
After being sent down in order in the top of the inning, the Redbirds stood firm on defense after the go-ahead runner made it on base to secure the 3-2 victory in the opening game of the series and twin bill.
Game Two: ISU 3, BU 6
Riley Hale launched a lead-off double against the left field wall to start game two and made her way to third base, but was unable to make it across home plate. A three-run shot in the bottom of the opening inning pushed Bradley to an early 3-0 lead over the Redbirds. In the next inning, the Braves' bats continued to go to work, hitting a lead-off home followed by a base hit to force an Illinois State pitching change.
Relief pitcher Ali Domkuski toed the rubber in the bottom of the second, fanning a pair of Braves but not before Bradley jumped out to a 5-0 advantage. Illinois State's offense came alive in the fourth inning, as Shannon Felde drew a four-pitch lead-off walk. Back-to-back singles by Allison Spence and Riley Strandgard brought Felde across home plate to put the Redbirds on the board. The Redbirds were able to scratch another run on the board in the top of the fourth to trail Bradley by just three runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Bradley was threatening to extend its lead when a lunging catch by Hale in right field closed the inning. The junior made a similar play in the fifth inning, as a hit down the right field line was held at a single as Hale jumped in front of it to keep the Bradley runner at first base. In the next at-bat, Bradley registered its seventh hit of the game, but Domkuski rebounded in the circle to strike out her third Brave of the game to keep the Bradley ahead by just three runs.
Despite a two-out double to left field by Alyssa Wiebel, the Redbirds were held off the board in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the inning, a fly out to Wiebel closed the frame after the Braves extended its lead to four runs. Caitlyn Daly led off the top of the seventh with a single to the shortstop to begin Illinois State's rally. With pinch runner Kori Mesecher on first, a fielder's choice to keep the runner off second, Lauren Prader was able to reach base. A one-out single to left field by Abby Turczyn brought the top of the batting order to the plate for the Redbirds and forced a pitching change by the Braves. Hale's third hit of the game was knocked down the right field line to bring a Redbird runner home, but Bradley held on for the 6-3 win to even the series at one-game all.
Up Next
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 – when it hosts Drake this weekend at Marian Kneer Stadium. A doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday before the Redbirds and the Bulldogs wrap up the series on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
