NORMAL, Ill. – After falling 9-0 in five innings to Valparaiso (25-23, 11-13 MVC) in the opening game of Saturday's twin bill, the Illinois State softball team (20-31, 11-13 MVC) rebounded to shut out the Crusaders, 4-0, in the second game to split the series at one game apiece.
Game Two: Illinois State 4, Valparaiso 0
The Crusaders drew a lead-off walk to start the second game, but a fielder's choice kept the runner from reaching second base in the opening frame. In the home half of the inning, Shannon Felde drew a one-out walk to get on base for the Redbirds. Junior Allison Spence continued to stay hot at the plate, singling through the left side, before a double play closed the opening inning.
Valpo registered its first hit of the second game with a lead-off single, but the Redbirds turned a 6-4-3 double play to kill the Crusaders' momentum. Riley Strandgard was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the second and a sac bunt by Andrea Coursey in the next at-bat pushed the shortstop into scoring position. A single by Caitlyn Daly brought pinch runner Kori Mesecher into the game, who stole second base in the first pitch sent into Brittni LaFountaine. A ground out to Valparaiso's third baseman closed the second inning to keep the Redbirds off the board.
In the top of the third, the Crusaders drew back-to-back walks, before a fielder's choice placed runners on the corners for Valparaiso. Starting pitcher Morgan Day regrouped and fanned a Crusader for the third and final out of the frame. Three-straight singles with two outs by Spence, Alyssa Wiebel and Strandgard quickly loaded the bases for Illinois State. A walk issued to Coursey brought Spence across home plate and the Redbirds on the board.
Both sides went down in order in the fourth, and Day went on to send the Crusaders down in order in the fifth and sixth innings, to keep Valpo from reaching base for three-straight innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Coursey launched her first collegiate home run – a three-run shot – over the left field wall to push the Redbirds out to a 4-0 lead.
Back-to-back two-out hard-hit singles in the top of the seventh put a pair of runners on for Valpo, before a fly out to Daly in left field ended the game to give Illinois State the 4-0 shutout to even the series.
Game One: Illinois State 0, Valparaiso 9 (5 inn.)
In the opening game of the series, Illinois State was put down in order, while Valparaiso put a run on the board in the top of the second inning, to hold a 1-0 lead over the Redbirds going into the third.
The Crusaders extended their lead after quickly loading the bases with no outs. A double to right center field brought a pair of runners across home plate and Ali Domkuski to the circle for the Redbirds. In the next at-bat, Valpo drew a walk to load the bases back up before a line out into a double play helped Illinois State record two quick outs. With a pair of runners in scoring position, a hard-hit single brought both runners home for a 5-0 lead for the Crusaders. In the bottom of the third, catcher Lauren Prader drew a two-out walk for Illinois State's first base runner of the day, but was left stranded.
Domkuski and the Redbird defense put Valpo down in order for the first time all game in the fourth. Alex Caliva drew a lead-off walk to start some momentum for Illinois State. A single through the right side by Allison Spence gave the Redbirds their first hit of the game, and pinch runner Stephanie Thulen stepped in to run for Spence, but both Thulen and Caliva were left stranded.
The Crusaders tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth to hold a 9-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning. A fly out, and a pair of foul outs, helped Valpo take the opening game of the series in five innings.
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 tomorrow's regular-season finale at Marian Kneer Stadium. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. and admission is free.
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