ISU Falls in First National Tournament Game

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Published on May 22 2017 1:19 pm
Last Updated on May 22 2017 1:19 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Illinois State jumped to an early one-run advantage before Lamar took a 2-1 lead that the Redbirds could not over come in the first round of the NISC Tournament at Kamphuis Field on Monday morning.

The Redbirds outhit the Cardinals 6-4 in the pitchers’ duel led by a multi-hit effort by Allison Spence and a single RBI by Riley Strandgard. Lamar’s Ashley McDowell had two hits with Brittany Rodriguez coming up with the pair of RBI for the Cardinals.

Illinois State slides to 33-23 while Lamar improves to 33-29 on the season.

Lamar led off with a double to left by McDowell, but back-to-back Sarah Finck strikeouts and a ground out ended the inning.

Riley Hale opened up the game for the Redbirds with a single through the right side, before Spence put runners on the corners with a single to the same spot. Strandgard plated Illinois State’s first run with the team’s third single, allowing Hale to come home. Alyssa Wiebel loaded the bases on a nine-pitch walk, but a clean groundout ended the inning.

Lamar responded with a back-to-back hits to take a 2-1 lead in the third off a Rodriguez two-run single.

Spence laced a single down the left line in the sixth as Taylor Vanderpool came in to run, but she was left on after consecutive fly outs.

Riley Phipps sparked a comeback effort with a pinch-hit single through the right side, but it was not enough as the Redbirds came up short, 2-1.

Finck hurled four strikeouts in the frame, taking the loss while Lamar’s Ciara Luna earned the win.

The Redbirds retake the field today at 3 p.m. Central, facing Liberty in an elimination game at Kamphuis Field.