By ISU Athletics Media Relations
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sarah Finck pitched seven strong innings for the Illinois State softball team and surrendered one run that was unearned in a 1-0 defeat to No. 2 Michigan Saturday morning at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
It’s the second tough loss for Finck in the past week as she falls to 4-9 on the season and the Redbirds drop to 8-17 overall.
After sitting through an hour and 45 minute rain delay prior to the first pitch, ISU and Michigan took the field to wet conditions and cloudy skies. Finck surrendered two singles to start the top of the first inning, but she calmly worked out of the jam to hold Michigan scoreless. With two runners in scoring position, Finck recorded two-straight outs to get out of the inning.
Illinois State’s offense recorded one hit in the first two innings, and in the top of the third Michigan broke the scoreless tie. Sierra Lawrence led off with her second hit of the game and moved to second on a groundout. Sierra Romero then reached on a throwing error and the next batter up, Kelsey Susalla, hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lawrence. The sacrifice fly would be the difference in the game.
Finck worked an efficient fourth inning after allowing a leadoff single to Amanda Vargas. She responded by retiring the next three hitters and left Vargas at second base. Trouble found Finck once more in the fifth inning, but again she was able to get out of it. After allowing back-to-back one out singles and a pair of stolen bases, Finck had runners at second and third and one out. However, she recorded the next two outs to end the frame.
The sophomore did it again in the sixth, leaving Michigan runners at second and third for the third time in the ball game. The only issue for Illinois State was that Michigan’s Megan Betsa was working her own gem in the circle. Betsa allowed just three hits in the ball game and struck out 11 ISU batters while walking none. Twice ISU put a runner on third base, but the Redbirds were unable to score both times.
Riley Strandgard, Annie Heineman and Payton Billups recorded the hits for Illinois State and ISU left three runners on base compared to Michigan’s 10. Finck pitched seven innings and allowed seven hits and one unearned run while striking out two and walking two. Four of ISU’s six losses on the 11-game road trip were by one run.
The Redbirds now shift their attention to Missouri Valley Conference play, which begins next weekend. ISU will travel to Missouri State for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.
