ISU Splits on Final Day of FAU/FIU Parent’s Weekend Tournament

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team used a two-run first inning and four-run second inning to take down the tournament host FAU Owls, 6-2, in its fifth game of the weekend Sunday afternoon, before falling to the Purdue Boilermakers, 8-0, in the night cap.

BIRD BITS AT FAU (W, 6-2)

Top Performers:

• Riley Hale: 3-for-4, 2 R, SB
• Mack Leonard: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Allison Spence: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB

Pitching Breakdown:

• Mack Leonard: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K

BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS AT FAU (W, 6-2)

• Ellie Weltha's bat stayed hot from Saturday, as the freshman singled up the middle to scratch a pair of runs across for ISU in the opening frame with one out.
• An error by FAU's center fielder brought Taylor Vanderpool across home plate to give ISU a 3-0 advantage in the second. Back-to-back singles by Riley Hale and Mack Leonard extended the Redbirds' lead to four runs, as the Owls made a pitching change with two in scoring position and just a single out. In the next at-bat, ISU jumped out to a six-run advantage behind a single through the right side by Allison Spence.
• ISU was sat down in order for the first time in the top of the fifth and starting pitcher Leonard returned the favor with the help of her defense in fifth and sixth innings.
• FAU pushed a pair of runs across in the bottom of the seventh, but ISU snapped its six-game losing skid with Leonard's first win of the season.

BIRD BITS VS. PURDUE (L, 8-0)

Top Performers:

• Mack Leonard: 1-for-2
• Emme Olson: 1-for-2
• Ali Domkuski: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K

BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. PURDUE (L, 8-0)

• Purdue pushed four runs across in the bottom of the opening frame to jump out to an early advantage over ISU.
• Ali Domkuski checked into the circle in relief of starting pitcher Morgan Day, but the Boilermakers extended its lead in the second inning to hold a 7-0 lead over the Redbirds after an ISU error.
• Shannon Felde and Mack Leonard each tallied ISU's first hits of the game in the fourth inning.
• The Boilermakers sealed the run-rule victory with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to take the game from ISU.

ON DECK

Illinois State will open Missouri Valley Conference play and continue its stretch on the road when it travels to Evansville, Indiana, to take on the Purple Aces.

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