Redbird softball head coach Melinda Fischer (Photo courtesy of GoRedbirds.com)
By WJBC staff
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Illinois State softball team faced two more ranked opponents Saturday in Tempe, Arizona. The Redbirds fell to No. 15 Washington 9-1 in five innings and then 7-2 to No. 4 Oklahoma. ISU is now 3-6 on the season.
Against Washington, the Redbirds took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Lindsey Greene drove home Regan Romshek. The Redbirds’ lead was their third against a ranked opponent this season.
However, the Huskies offense awoke in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs to take a commanding five-run lead. Then in the fifth, Washington added three more and held ISU in the bottom of the frame to take the run-rule victory.
Washington piled up 14 hits while ISU was held to three. Romshek, Greene and Stephanie Gallant tallied the three hits and ISU did not draw a walk in the game.
Romshek took the loss for ISU and drops to 3-3 on the season. She went 3 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs while striking out two. McKensie Vissering then provided an inning and a third of relief, allowing four hits and three earned runs.
The five-inning loss marks the second time this season the Redbirds have lost by run rule.
Matched up against the fourth-ranked Sooners in the second game of the day, ISU battled throughout. OU plated two runs on Vissering in the first inning and then added a third in the bottom of the second. However, led by a trio of freshmen, ISU rallied in the fourth.
Caitlyn Daly produced a pinch-hit RBI single, which was followed by another two-out single from Lauren Prader. Riley Strandgard then singled in another run to draw within one at 3-2.
But the problem that has plagued the Redbirds all season long is finishing innings when there are two outs, and in the bottom of the fourth, ISU struggled to get the third out.
Oklahoma tallied four runs with two outs to push its lead up to five and that would be enough. The Sooner pitching staff held off ISU’s rally attempts and dropped ISU to 3-6 on the season.
The Redbirds totaled six hits with six different players recording one apiece. Romshek and Gallant scored the runs for ISU. Vissering took the loss in the circle after 3 2/3 innings, giving up 12 hits and seven earned runs.
Greene came on in relief and shut the Sooners down in the final two innings. It was her first pitching appearance and she scattered three hits while striking out one and walking two.
ISU will now face Boston University at 10 a.m. CT Sunday morning. It’s the final game in Tempe for the Redbirds and a live audio broadcast will be available on GoRedbirds.com.
