TEMPE, Ariz. – Illinois State (0-6) suffered a double loss on the first day of the Littlewood Classic as Cal (5-1) beat the Redbirds 3-1 and the University of Texas-El Paso (5-2) won 4-3 on a walk-off single.
Senior and team captain, Michele Calabrese, played a big role for the Redbirds in game two against UTEP as she knocked in the first run of the game, scored the second run and recorded her first collegiate hit.
GAME 1 (Cal)
BIRD BITS
Offensive highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- After Cal plated a run in the top of the first, Emme Olson drew a walk followed by a single from Rebecca Moffett in the bottom half of the inning, but the Redbirds came up empty.
- It remained a 1-0 game until the top of the third when the Golden Bears were able to plate another run, going up 2-0.
- The Redbirds responded in the bottom half of the inning as Kaili Chval was able to reach safely on an error and advanced to second on a bad throw. Olson then got hit by a pitch which brought Moffett back up to the plate. She doubled to right center and Chval scored to cut the Bears' lead in half, 2-1.
- Cal scratched another run across in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. Addison Masching tried to get it going for Illinois State in the bottom of the fifth, but nothing came of her lone single.
- Reili Gardner attempted the final push for the Redbirds as she singled to center field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Cal was able to end the inning and win 3-1 over the 'Birds.
GAME 2 (UTEP)
BIRD BITS
Offensive highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- The Redbirds started off hot as Masching singled to left center, but the 'Birds failed to score in the first inning. UTEP came out swinging in the bottom half to take an early 3-0 lead.
- After three consecutive singles from Chloe Jefferson, Bella Wilkerson, and Madi Bylak in the top of the second, Calabrese hit a sac fly to right field that scored Jefferson to make it a 3-1 game.
- Calabrese came up big again in the top of the fifth as she singled down the left field line, recording her first collegiate hit, and scored later on a double by Olson.
- The game remained 3-2 in favor of the Miners until the top of the seventh inning when Illinois State tied the game. Masching walked, followed by back-to-back singles from Gardner and Olson to load the bases. Abby Knight came in to pinch hit and reached on an error as Masching scored to tie it.
- In the bottom of the seventh, UTEP drew a walk and moved the runner on a sacrifice bunt which then allowed the runner to score on a single to left center field, walking-off the Redbirds 4-3.
ON DECK
Illinois State will start day two of the Littlewood Classic (Saturday, Feb. 19) against (RV) Minnesota at 3 p.m. CT, followed by a contest against the host, No. 23/21 Arizona State at 5:30 p.m. CT which will be available to watch on the ASU Live Stream.
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
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