BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Illinois State softball team (7-7) opened the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling with a 5-0 shutout victory over IUPUI, behind Morgan Day's second-career one-hitter and 18 strikeouts. Day's 18 strikeouts are tied for the most in a game by a Redbird, since Nicole Kurth tossed the same amount in 2001.Â
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Morgan Day: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 18 K (career-high)
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Morgan Day fanned six-straight Jaguars – and eight of the first nine she faced – to keep IUPUI off the bases through three frames.
- Mack Leonard picked up right where she left off offensively, launching her sixth home run of the season – and fifth in the lead-off position of an inning – to give ISU an early lead.
- A sac fly to right field by Spenser Strandgard sent Alyssa Wiebel charging across home plate in the bottom of the fourth, who led off the frame with her eighth extra-base hit of the season.
- In the fifth, the Redbirds extended their lead by a run, as Emme Olson tripled down the right field line to push Kaili Chval around the bases.
- Back-to-back homers by Strandgard and Anni Borries highlighted the sixth inning, as Day closed the game with a pair of strikeouts to seal the 5-0 shutout win for ISU.
ON DECK
Illinois State will continue tournament play this afternoon against Austin Peay.
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