GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Illinois State combined for 17 hits in two games against No. 3 Florida and Florida A&M on Saturday. In the Redbirds' 10-2 setback to the Gators, ISU registered seven hits – the most against Florida in the 15-game series history, while its two runs scored matched a series high against the Gators.
The Redbirds bounced back versus the Rattlers, reaching double-digit hits (10) for the second time this season to take the 6-3 victory over Florida A&M. Alyssa Wiebel's grand slam marked the second one of the season for the junior, joining ISU alums Jordan de los Reyes (2015), Laura Canopy (2013) and Jhavon Hamilton (2013) on the list of Redbirds to have hit a pair of grand slams in a single season over the last six years.
BIRD BITS VS. NO. 3 FLORIDA (L, 2-10 {6})
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. NO. 3 FLORIDA (L, 2-10 {6})
- Shannon Felde earned her seventh start of the season and second against the Gators on Saturday. After giving up a lead-off hit, the Redbird defense helped keep Florida from moving into scoring position, getting the next three outs to start the game.
- Florida scratched a pair of runs across in the bottom of the second, before a fly out to Kenzie Pence in left field helped the Redbirds escape the bases-loaded jam.
- A lead-off home run by Ellie Weltha in the third brought ISU within one, as the freshman's long ball marked her second homer of the year and third career hit.
- The Gators hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to jump out to a 5-1 lead over the Redbirds, bringing Mack Leonard to the circle in relief of Felde, who was able to escape the inning with help of her defense.
- ISU's bats heated up in the top of the fifth, as Allison Spence, Riley Hale and Mack Leonard all registered hits for the Redbirds. Leonard's single up the middle brought pinch runner Michele Calabrese home from second to cut into Florida's lead.
- Florida responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to hold a 7-2 advantage going into the sixth inning, before capitalizing for a 10-2 run-rule win in the bottom of the sixth.
BIRD BITS VS. FLORIDA A&M (W, 6-3)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. FLORIDA A&M (W, 6-3)
- Illinois State loaded the bases in the top of the first on a pair of hits by Andrea Coursey and Allison Spence, and a walk drawn by Ellie Weltha. In the next at-bat, Alyssa Wiebel launched her second grand slam of the season over the center field wall to clear the bases and put the Redbirds ahead, 4-0.
- The Redbirds scored again in the second, as a double by Emme Olson brought Shannon Felde across home late for a 5-0 advantage.
- Florida A&M paired a hit with an ISU error to add two runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
- The Rattlers tacked on a third run in the bottom of the fifth on a lead-off double and a single to make it 5-3 with ISU still out in front.
- Sophomore Morgan Day checked into the circle to start the bottom of the sixth, sending the Rattlers down in order for the first time of the game.
- Back-to-back singles by Coursey and Spence in the top of the seventh placed Redbird runners on the corners with no outs. A sac fly in foul territory by Wiebel pushed Coursey across home plate to give ISU the 6-3 lead and victory.
ON DECK
Illinois State closes the Bubly Invitational on Sunday against Florida A&M at 8:30 a.m. CT.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
