NORMAL, Ill. – It was a game of home runs in Saturday's doubleheader between Illinois State (11-23, 5-2 MVC) and UNI (17-13, 8-2 MVC), as the Panthers handed the Redbirds their first Missouri Valley Conference losses of the season.
Twelve of the 13 runs scored by both teams were accounted for by home runs, as the Redbirds knocked a pair over the outfield wall and the Panthers notched five on the day.
BIRD BITS VS. UNI (L, 6-2) – GAME 1
Top Performers:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. UNI (L, 6-2) – GAME 1
- UNI started the home run derby with a two-run shot over the right field wall to break open scoring in the top of the third inning.
- The Redbirds responded in the home half of the inning, as senior Shannon Felde launched her first homer of the season over the left field wall to make it a 2-1 deficit for ISU.
- Teammate Brittni LaFountaine lifted her second long ball of the season in nearly the same spot as Felde, knotted the game at two-all in the bottom of the fifth.
- UNI homered in the sixth, and again in the seventh, to take the series-opening game, 6-2, handing ISU its first conference loss of the season.
BIRD BITS VS. UNI (L, 5-0) – GAME 2
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS VS. UNI (L, 5-0) – GAME 2
- The Panthers scratched a run across in the top of the second on an ISU throwing error to take an early lead, before extending it in the top of the third on a pair of two-run homers to make it a 5-0 advantage for UNI.
- After being sat down in back-to-back frames, the Redbirds returned the favor in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of ground outs to Andrea Coursey and a pop-up to the sophomore.
- ISU turned its 12th double play of the season to grab a pair of quick outs in the top of the fifth.
- Relief pitcher Mack Leonard
ON DECK
Illinois State will play its series finale against UNI tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT, before continuing its home stand on Wednesday when I-74 rival Bradley travels to Normal for the team's annual Pack the Park night. First pitch of the Redbirds' doubleheader versus the Braves is set for 3 p.m. For more information on the event, please visit GoRedbirds.com.
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.
