BOCA RATON, Fla. – After a nearly two and a half hour weather delay, the Illinois State softball team began its first game of a twin bill versus LIU Brooklyn, falling 5-3 to the Blackbirds. The Redbirds returned to field less than 20 minutes later, dropping a 5-1 decision to Notre Dame.
BIRD BITS VS. LIU BROOKLYN (L, 5-3)
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. LIU BROOKLYN (L, 5-3)
- LIU Brooklyn worked around two outs in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead over ISU.
- The Redbirds responded in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back two-out doubles by Mack Leonard and Ellie Weltha to push a pair of runners across home plate, before a single up the middle by Emme Olson in the next at-bat brought home a third Redbird.
- The Blackbirds responded in the top of the second inning with two more runs to level the game at three-all.
- LIU Brooklyn regained a 4-3 advantage with bases loaded in the top of the fourth, bringing Leonard to the circle who was able to escape the inning with the help of her defense.
- ISU was kept off base in the final frame, after the Blackbirds pushed another run across in the top of the inning for a 5-3 win.
BIRD BITS VS. NOTRE DAME (L, 5-1)
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. NOTRE DAME (L, 5-1)
- The Irish struck first, launching a two-run homer over the center field wall to break the scoring open in the bottom of the third.
- Notre Dame extended its lead on an unearned run, before Ellie Weltha made a play at the plate to slam the door on the fourth inning.
- Two more runs scored for the Irish, before relief pitcher Shannon Felde tossed back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases loaded for Notre Dame in the bottom of the fifth.
- Ellie Weltha singled to right field, bringing Felde across home plate to put the Redbirds on the board in the top of the sixth but Notre Dame held its 5-1 advantage through the remainder of the game.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will close out the FAU/FIU Parent's Weekend Tournament tomorrow with a game against host Florida Atlantic at 2:45 p.m. CT and a rematch with Purdue at 7:15 p.m. CT.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
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