CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Illinois State softball team (19-30, 10-12 MVC) dropped its final regular-season road finale at UNI (25-23, 10-12 MVC) on Sunday with a 6-1 decision to the Panthers.
The Redbirds placed a pair of runners on base early, as Riley Hale hit a lead-off single through the right side and Alex Caliva followed with a walk. A ground out to the pitcher moved the pair into scoring position, but a fielder's choice to get Hale out at home kept Illinois State off the board. The Panthers responded in the bottom of the inning, getting their own pair of runners on base, but the Redbird defense responded and left the duo stranded on the corners.
UNI sat Illinois State down in order, and jumped on the board in the second inning, with a two-run shot over the left field wall. Hale continued to produce at the plate for the Redbirds, hitting a one-out single through the left side in the third inning. Junior Allison Spence registered her first hit of the day – a two-out single through the same path as Hale – before a double up the middle by Shannon Felde brought Hale across home plate to put Illinois State on the board.
In the home half of the third, starting pitcher Morgan Day and the Redbird defense put the Panthers down in order for the first time to stay within one run of UNI. With two outs in the fourth, catcher Brittni LaFountaine knocked a double to right center field, before pinch hitter Caitlyn Daly stepped up to the dish and delivered a single to put runners on the corners. The Redbirds were unable to get through the Panther defense, as a ground out to the pitcher ended Illinois State's threat to take the lead.
A lead-off double to centerfield set up a four-run, two-hit fourth inning for the Panthers, pushing UNI out to a 6-1 lead. The Redbirds were sat down in order in back-to-back innings, and put the Panthers down in order in the sixth, bringing pinch hitter Riley Phipps to the plate with one out in the seventh. The senior drew a walk to make it on base, but a UNI fielder's choice kept Illinois State out of scoring position and gave the Panthers the 6-1 win and the series over the Redbirds.
Illinois State will return home to wrap up the regular season next weekend at Marian Kneer Stadium against Valparaiso. A doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday, before the regular season finale will be played on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Reggie's Kids Club Day
The Illinois State softball team will host Reggie's Kids Club Day on Saturday, May 5. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. Activities will begin at 11 a.m. at Adelaide Street Field, next to the softball complex. Kids club members will have a chance to craft their own piñata and enjoy Papa John's pizza, while supplies last. A post-game autograph session will be held after the second game of the doubleheader, where kids will have the opportunity to meet their favorite Redbird softball players. One lucky Reggie's Kids Club member will have the opportunity to announce the Redbird softball batters during the game.
Senior Day
The Illinois State softball team will recognize the team's seven seniors – Alex Caliva, Caitlyn Daly, Sarah Finck, Riley Phipps, Lauren Prader, Riley Strandgard and Abby Turczyn – at the conclusion of Sunday's regular-season finale at Marian Kneer Stadium.
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