CHICAGO – After winning the first game of the doubleheader 2-0, with Hannah Ross tossing a gem of a game, Illinois State (18-19, 8-5 MVC) dropped game two 9-3 to Loyola (10-22, 4-10 MVC), even as the Redbirds outhit the Ramblers 7-6.
BIRD BITS (Game 1)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Ros: 7.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 7 SO, WP
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a true pitchers' duel in Chicago to start the doubleheader between the Redbirds and the Ramblers.
- Delainey Bryant and Jayden Standish drew a pair of walks in the first inning, but Illinois State came up empty.
- Both teams remained hitless until Loyola recorded a single in the bottom of the third with two outs in the inning, but the Ramblers left the runner stranded.
- The Redbirds scored first as Emme Olson singled to right center to start the top of the fourth, reaching base safely in her 28thconsecutive contest. Addison Masching then smashed a two-out double to deep center field, Olson crossing the plate to put the 'Birds up 1-0.
- Illinois State scored again in the fifth as Bryant sliced a ball down the right field line, and flew around the bases to collect her fourth triple of the season with two outs in the inning. Kaili Chval then hit a hard ground ball to third, the Loyola defense making an error, and Bryant scored.
- Hannah Ross dealt her only free pass of the game to the leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh, but was able to get three consecutive groundouts to end the inning and give the Redbirds a 2-0 victory over the Ramblers. Ross ended the day with seven strikeouts, a career high, and she has now pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings.
BIRD BITS (Game 2)
Offensive Highlights:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Amanda Fox: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HBP
- Allison Tillema: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, WP
- Annie Volkers: 1.0 IP, BB, SO
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The offense came out swinging for the Redbirds in the first inning as Chval and Olson knocked a pair of back-to-back singles, but Illinois State came up empty.
- Loyola was on the board first as Amanda Fox walked the first batter she faced, who eventually came around to score on a single up the middle with the bases loaded. Fox and the Redbird defense got out of the bases loaded jam without surrendering another run.
- While the second inning was one-two-three for both squads, the Ramblers extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third as another batter that was walked by Fox came around to score.
- As the rain started fall in the fourth inning, Loyola continued to add to its lead. Errors by the Illinois State defense combined with a few hits, led to five more runs scored for the Ramblers. Fox was relieved by Allison Tillema with one out in the inning after Fox gave up a two-run home run.
- The top of the fifth started out promising for the Redbirds as Masching and Bella Wilkerson hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Brandi LaFountaine knocked an RBI single up the middle to score Masching, and give Illinois State its first run of the game and runners on first and second, no outs.
- As the Redbirds were finally gaining momentum, down 7-1, the rain was relentless and play was halted for a weather delay. The game resumed after about 45 minutes with runners on first and second and no outs for Illinois State.
- The next two batters were outs before Chval doubled to center field and both Wilkerson and LaFountaine scored, cutting the Ramblers' lead to 7-3.
- Loyola was able to earn two of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth as more walks continued to haunt the Illinois State pitchers. The two runs that scored were both walks issued by Tillema to put the runners on, and the Ramblers now led 9-3.
- After a scoreless sixth for both teams, the Redbirds were unable to produce in the last frame of the game. Although Illinois State outhit Loyola 7-6, errors and walks by the Redbirds were their downfall and the Ramblers took game two of the series 9-3.
ON DECK
The Redbirds and the Ramblers will face off for the final game of the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m. CT in Chicago, Ill.
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