DES MOINES, Iowa – The No. 7 seed Illinois State softball team (21-33) never gave up in its Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship quarterfinal matchup with No. 3 seed Southern Illinois (30-21) on Friday. The Salukis scored a run in both the fourth and the fifth innings, and despite the Redbirds' rally, secured the 2-0 win.
The pitcher's duel started from the very beginning, as SIU's starting pitcher and freshman Morgan Day sent each other's teams' first three batters down in order in the first inning.
Alyssa Wiebel drew a lead-off walk in the second for Illinois State's first base runner, and a sac bunt by Andrea Coursey moved the sophomore into scoring position, but was left stranded. Southern Illinois' lead-off batter was hit by a pitch, but Day refocused and put the next three batters down in order.
In the third inning, Riley Hale was hit by a pitch – the third time during the tournament – with two outs. Back-to-back singles by Shannon Felde and Allison Spence quickly loaded the bases, but the Salukis settled to escape the Redbirds' threat. Day returned to the circle in the bottom of the inning and fanned two more Salukis, before a double to right center field put a runner in scoring position. A fly out to Caitlyn Daly in left field closed the third to keep the game knotted at zero.
Southern Illinois put the Redbirds down in order in the fourth and the fifth innings, while a solo home run over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the fourth put the Salukis on the board. A sac fly in the bottom of the fifth brought a second Saluki across home plate for a 2-0 Southern Illinois lead.
The Redbirds started their rally in the sixth, as Felde knocked a lead-off single down the left field line and advanced to second base on an error. In the next at-bat, Spence drew a walk, bringing pinch runner Stephanie Thulen in to pinch run, but Felde and Thulen were left stranded. Day and the Redbird defense did their part in the bottom of the frame to send Southern Illinois down in order.
Pinch hitter Riley Phipps stepped in and drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh, bringing Kori Mesecher into the game to pinch run. A walk issued to Hale in the next at-bat put the equalizing run on base, but the Salukis held on for the 2-0 win to advance in the championship tournament.
Illinois State finished the season with a 21-33 overall record and an 11-14 mark during conference play. The Redbirds played 10 games against nationally-ranked opponents, including 18 total games against teams within the top 75 RPI. Hale's first-team all-conference selection marked the 25th straight season that a Redbird had been given the recognition. The MVC All-Tournament Team will be announced at the conclusion of tomorrow's championship game.
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