BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team (8-3) wrapped up action at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament on Sunday, securing a pair of wins over Coastal Carolina (6-6) and the tournament host Owls (3-15).
The Redbirds opened the day with a 12-5 victory over Coastal Carolina, before besting Florida Atlantic in extra innings, 5-4, in the nightcap.
BIRD BITS – Game 1 vs. Coastal Carolina (W, 12-5)
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Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS – Game 1 vs. Coastal Carolina (W, 12-5)
- A double delivered by Mack Leonard in the first at-bat set the tone for a seven-run opening frame for the Redbirds. With Jayden Standish at the plate and the bases loaded, the rookie delivered her first collegiate hit, blasting a home run over the left center field wall to help the Redbirds charge ahead, 6-0. Leonard's second hit of the inning and an error by the Chanticleers pushed ISU ahead by seven.
- Illinois State added another run in the second, but Coastal Carolina responded by capitalizing on an error by the Redbirds in the home half of the inning, cutting into ISU's lead.
- The Redbirds scratched four more runs across in the fifth with hits from Standish, Reili Gardner and Kaili Chval.
- The Chanticleers avoided the run rule by adding four runs of their own on four hits in the bottom of the inning, trailing the Redbirds, 12-5.
- Morgan Day entered the game in the sixth in relief of Hannah Ross, who finished with a career-high three strikeouts, tossing four strikeouts of her own, as Ross secured her second career win in the circle.
BIRD BITS – Game 2 vs. Florida Atlantic (W, 5-4 in 8 innings)
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS – Game 2 vs. Florida Atlantic (W, 5-4 in 8 innings)
- It was a pitcher's duel to start the game, as Mack Leonard doubled her career strikeout total in the bottom of the fourth inning with eight strikeouts, before the Owls registered their first hit of the game that same frame and scratched an unearned run on the board.
- Kaili Chval doubled down the left field line in the fifth, before an RBI single from Emme Olson helped the Redbirds knot the score at one-all.
- The Owls jumped out to their largest lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth, tacking a pair of runs on the board for a 4-2 advantage.
- A two-out solo shot to left field by Dayna Kennedy in the top of the seventh helped the Redbirds cut into FAU's lead, while a single from Andrea Coursey that same inning sent Spenser Strandgard charging across home plate to level the score at four apiece.
- With the international tie breaker rule in effect in the eighth inning and Coursey standing on second base, Jayden Standish laid down a sac bunt, before a single up the middle from Leonard pushed the winning run across home plate.
- Morgan Day, who checked into the circle in the bottom of the sixth inning, struck out all eight FAU batters she faced over the 2.2 innings of relief to grab her fourth win of the season, sealing the victory 5-4 for ISU with three-straight strikeouts.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, next weekend to participate in the MTSU Invitational, hosted by the Blue Raiders. Illinois State will face Middle Tennessee, Dayton and North Dakota State at the five-game event.
To view ISU's full schedule, visit GoRedbirds.com. Game times, dates, opponents and locations are subject to change.
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.
