Illinois State Beats Bradley in Softball DH

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Published on April 20 2017 9:07 am
Last Updated on April 20 2017 9:07 am
Written by Millie Lange

NORMAL  – Keeping Pack the Park fans on the edges of their seats, Illinois State put on a show with two walk-off wins over Bradley in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Marian Kneer Stadium.

The Redbirds opened up game one with four home runs in the first inning, capped off by a Riley Hale two-run single in the fifth inning for the 9-1 win in five innings. After falling to a five-run deficit, Illinois State’s energy kept the team focused through a Shannon Felde RBI and two home runs by Jordan de los Reyes, plating five, for the 6-5 win in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With de los Reyes’ 4-for-8 day with five RBIs, not only is she one of five members of Illinois State’s 200 Hit Club, but she is now the all-time program record holder with 169 career RBI.

Earning the start in game one and closing out the nightcap, Sarah Finck improved her record in the circle to 17-8, allowing a single earned run in the doubleheader.

With the doubleheader sweep, Illinois State improves to 24-17, maintaining the top spot in the Valley at 14-4. The Braves fall to 19-25 and 5-12 in league play. The Redbirds will go for the series sweep at Bradley on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Peoria, Illinois.

Two Teutopolis graduates are on the roster for Illinois State, Kadi and Anni Borries while another Teutopolis graduate is on the Bradley roster, Allison Apke who had three at-bats in the poening game and drew a walk and had two at-bats in the second contest.

Game One: W, 9-1 (5 inn.)

On the very first pitch of the game, Hale sent a solo-shot to center, opening up the Redbirds’ six-run first inning. Felde doubled the score with her second career home run. After a walk, Allison Spence made it 4-0 on a third home run. Riley Strandgard finalized the first inning’s score at 6-0 on a two-run home run to left, before a strikeout ended the inning.

The Braves logged their second hit of the game on a Kealia Wysocki solo home run to right in the fifth inning. Bradley continued to threaten with runners on the corners, but a fly-out to left ended the frame.

Illinois State responded with a Spence single to open the bottom of the fifth. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, the bases were loaded. Taylor Vanderpool plated the Redbirds’ seventh run on a Bradley miscue before Hale clinched the five-inning, 9-1 win with a two-run single through the right side.

Finck tossed her 16th win of the season and 18th complete game, giving up a lone run in the top of the fifth. Bradley’s starter Julie Kestas took the loss after just 11 pitches while Megan Mahaffy tossed the remaining 4.2 innings.

Game Two: W, 6-5

Bradley took an early lead in the first inning on an RBI-walk in the first inning. The Braves added four more runs on a Redbird miscue and a Wysocki three-run homer. Morgan Christner made her fifth appearance of the season, closing out the inning with a strikeout and ground ball to second.

De los Reyes and Strandgard singled in the first and second innings, respectively, but the pair was left on base.

On her second hit of the game, not only did de los Reyes end the scoring drought with a two-run home run in the fourth, but she also became the fifth member of Illinois State’s 200 Hit Club.

The Redbirds’ momentum continued into the sixth inning on a pair of leadoff hits by Annie Heineman and Caitlyn Daly. Hale drew a four-pitch walk before Shannon Felde plated Illinois State’s third run.

An Alex Caliva – Strandgard – Spence double play and a fly out to Heineman held off the Braves in the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hale drew a leadoff walk before Felde sent a two-out single to right field with de los Reyes as the go-ahead run on deck. On her second pitch, de los Reyes rocketed a three-run homer to right field for the come-from-behind, 6-5 win, setting the school record for career RBIs.

Finck closed out the game in 1.1 innings to earn the win. Christner tossed 3.1 scoreless innings for the Redbirds, hurling one strikeout. Ali Domkuski earned the start in game two, hurling 2.1 innings with four earned runs and one strikeout. Bradley’s Jaelen Hull logged a complete game in the circle while taking the loss.

The Redbirds stay home for a three-game series against Missouri State with a Saturday doubleheader at noon and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.