TEMPE, Ariz. – The Illinois State softball team played its first true doubleheader of the season on Friday, squaring off with Central Michigan and No. 4 Florida on the second day of Arizona State's Littlewood Classic.
BIRD BITS VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN (L, 3-4)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Shannon Felde: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
- Morgan Day: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
BIRD BITS VS. NO. 4 FLORIDA (L, 1-2)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
- Illinois State jumped on the board in the top of the first, as a double to center field by Andrea Coursey brought Riley Hale across home plate for an early 1-0 lead for the Redbirds.
- A lead-off home run by the Chippewas in the bottom of the second leveled the score at one-all, before starting pitcher Shannon Felde and the Redbird defense sent the next three batters down in order.
- A two-out double in the top of the third by Alyssa Wiebel brought Allison Spence home to help ISU to a 2-1 lead.
- Central Michigan hit the long ball again in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run shot over the left field wall to jump out to a two-run lead.
- Brittni LaFountaine knocked her first career homer over the left field wall in the top of the sixth with one out to cut into the Chippewas' lead, but Central Michigan fought off the Redbirds for the 4-3 win.
- ISU has now hit at least one home run in five out of its first eight outings, while the Redbirds' 12 hits is a single-game season high.
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. NO. 4 FLORIDA
- Senior right-handed pitcher Ali Domkuski earned her first start of the season against Florida, fanning her first Gator.
- Florida scratched a pair of runs across in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 lead over the Redbirds.
- Illinois State turned its second double play of the game, and fourth of the afternoon, to close the third inning, leaving Florida runners in scoring position.
- Freshman Ellie Weltha drew her first walk of the season to make it on base for the first time in her career, becoming ISU's first base runner of the game.
- A double by Shannon Felde brought pinch runner Michele Calabrese across home plate to bring ISU within one.
- The two runs given up by the Redbirds is the fewest allowed in a setback to Florida, while the one-run decision is the slimmest margin of loss to the Gators in the history of the series.
ON DECK
Illinois State will take on Utah State in the night cap tomorrow, with the first pitched schedule for 8 p.m. CT, before closing the Littlewood Classic on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. CT against San Diego.
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