MIAMI, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team opened the FAU/FIU Parent's Weekend Tournament on the campus of Florida International on Friday with a pair of setbacks to North Dakota State and Purdue.
BIRD BITS VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (L, 4-0)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (L, 4-0)
- NDSU scratched three runs across in the opening frame to hold an early 3-0 lead over the Redbirds.
- The Bison registered their third hit of the game to lead off the second, but Brittni LaFountaine caught the runner stealing second before starting pitcher Morgan Day and the Redbird defense sent the next two batters down in order.
- A fourth run scored in the bottom of the third – this time on an error by the Redbird defense – extended NDSU's lead over ISU.
- Relief pitcher Ali Domkuski stepped into the circle to start the home half of the fourth, fanning the first Bison she faced, before ISU escaped the inning on a 1-3 double play.
- Domkuski and the Redbird defense say the Bison down in order in back-to-back innings to keep NDSU at a 4-0 lead going into the top of the seventh. ISU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but the Bison held on for the victory.
BIRD BITS VS. PURDUE (L, 2-1)
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. PURDUE (L, 2-1)
- Morgan Day settled in during ISU's second game, fanning five batters through the first four frames, which included back-to-back strikeouts to close the top of the fourth inning.
- Purdue squeaked a two-run homer over the left field wall for just its second hit of the game to take a 2-0 lead over the Redbirds in the top of the fifth.
- Mack Leonard was drilled for the second time in the game in the bottom of the fifth, bringing Shannon Felde across home plate, who was one of three Redbirds to draw a walk in the frame. The Boilermakers made a pitching change, escaping the inning with a slim 2-1 advantage.
- The Boilermakers sat the Redbirds down in order in the bottom of the seventh to take the first of two meetings between the two programs this weekend.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will continue the FAU/FIU Parent's Weekend Tournament on the campus of Florida Atlantic tomorrow with a doubleheader against LIU Brooklyn and Notre Dame scheduled for an 8 a.m. CT first pitch.
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