CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – After falling 10-6 in the series-opening offensive clash, the Illinois State softball team (19-29, 10-11 MVC) bounced back to win the defensive battle in game two, taking down UNI (24-23, 9-12 MVC), 2-1.
Game Two – ILS 2, UNI 1
The Redbirds were sent down in order in the first two innings, while UNI put three base runners on, but the Redbird defense stood firm to keep the Panthers off the board. In the third inning, Brittni LaFountaine registered Illinois State's first hit of the game and Riley Hale drew a walk to put a pair of runners on for the Redbirds, but the pair were left stranded to keep the defensive crusade going.
Alyssa Wiebel knocked a two-out double – her sixth of the season – to right center field to put the Redbirds' second runner of the game in scoring positon, but Illinois State was unable to push the runner across home plate. A lineout to a leaping Riley Strandgard closed the fourth inning to keep the game knotted at zero.
The Panthers jumped on the board in the fifth inning with a lead-off home run. A fly out into a double play closed the fifth inning with UNI leading by one run going into the sixth.
Hale continued to work at the plate, hitting a lead-off double down the left field line. A sac bunt by Shannon Felde moved her to third base, before a single to short left center field by Allison Spence brought Hale across home plate to put the Redbirds on the board to tie the game at one-all. With bases loaded, pinch hitter Riley Phipps stepped up to the dish and delivered a sac fly to centerfield to push Illinois State ahead, 2-1.
UNI drew a walk in the sixth and seventh innings to put the tying run on base, but pitcher Morgan Day and the Redbird defense retired the final three Panthers in the bottom of the seventh to take the game, 2-1, and even the series at one-game apiece.
Game One – ILS 6, UNI 10
With one out in the opening frame of the first game, Alex Caliva reached first base on a throwing error by UNI's shortstop. In the next at-bat, Allison Spence hit an infield single, but the pair of runners were left stranded. A single followed by back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Panthers in the bottom of the inning. A double to right center field cleared the bases, leaving the batter at second base, while giving UNI an early 3-0 lead.
The Redbirds responded in the second inning, as Alyssa Wiebel led off with a single and Caitlyn Daly followed with her fourth double of the season to put the duo in scoring position with no outs. A single by Andrea Coursey in the next at-bat quickly loaded the bases for Illinois State, before a sac fly by Lauren Prader put the Redbirds on the board. Three-straight singles by Riley Hale, Caliva and Spence tied the game up at three-all, forcing UNI to make a pitching change.
After three walks were issued to the Redbirds, Illinois State jumped out to a 6-3 lead, bringing the Panthers' starting pitcher back to the circle to close the top of the second inning. Back-to-back doubles by UNI in the bottom of the frame brought the Panthers within one run, bringing Shannon Felde to the circle. A pop up in foul territory to Coursey helped the Redbirds keep their lead going into the third.
UNI tallied three hits in the bottom of the third, scoring one run, to tie the game at six-all. On the first pitch sent in, Spence doubled to left field to start the fourth inning, but couldn't move around the bases to break the knot. The Panthers tacked on four runs in the bottom of the inning to break free from the Redbirds.
Illinois State continued to battle at the plate, as Hale doubled in the sixth inning and Riley Strandgard singled in the seventh, but the Panthers wouldn't let Illinois State threaten its lead to take the game, 10-6. Spence led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Illinois State and UNI will play the rubber match at 11 a.m. tomorrow, before the Redbirds return home to wrap up the regular season next weekend at Marian Kneer Stadium against Valparaiso.
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