By Illinois State University Athletics Media Relations
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Illinois State softball team split a doubleheader to open up Missouri Valley Conference play, defeating Missouri State, 8-0, in game one before falling, 3-2, in game two.
The Redbirds (9-18, 1-1 MVC) and Bears will finish their three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Killian Stadium.
Game 1: Illinois State 8, Missouri State 0 (5 innings)
The Redbird bats were on fire in game one as ISU scored in every inning, but one. ISU made a statement in the top of the first, scoring three runs on two hits. Jordan de los Reyes and Riley Strandgard each drove in a run with a base hit.
The three runs would be more than enough for ISU starter Regan Romshek. Romshek was lights out from the get-go, scattering four hits while striking out four and walking none. She faced 19 batters in the five-inning win.
Romshek worked a perfect first inning before allowing two hits in the second. However, she received some help from the defense as Alex Caliva and Riley Hale each made diving plays on the infield to keep Missouri State off the scoreboard.
In the top of the third ISU added three more runs thanks to Strandgard. After Romshek doubled and de los Reyes walked, Strandgard launched a deep three-run homer over the left-center field fence that made it 6-0. The home run was Strandgard’s second of the season.
Romshek coasted through the bottom of the inning, striking out the side. In the fourth, the long ball helped ISU once again as de los Reyes hit a two-run homer over the center field fence. The homer was the first homer in a month for de los Reyes and her fifth of the season.
Romshek was able to shut down MSU in the fourth and fifth innings and pick up the run-rule victory for ISU. It’s the second time this season ISU has won a run-rule game. Strandgard led the way offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. De los Reyes finished 2-for-2 with a home run, double and three RBIs.
Game 2: Missouri State 3, Illinois State 2
Pitchers ruled in game two of the day as Sarah Finck and Missouri State’s Erin Struemph dueled. Both pitchers worked scoreless innings in the first and second despite allowing runners to reach. In the top of the third, ISU struck first with a pair of runs.
After Annie Heineman led off with a walk, Regan Romshek singled to drive in the game’s first run. Romshek advanced to second on a throw home and then took third on a wild pitch. Jordan de los Reyes then lifted a high fly ball to left that was caught, but allowed Romshek to tag and score.
With a 2-0 lead, Finck worked a perfect fourth, but allowed an unearned run in the fifth after a pair of errors and a base hit for Missouri State. ISU tried to get the run back in the top of the sixth, but left runners and first and second.
In the bottom of the sixth, MSU completed its comeback with the long ball. Kaitlin Beason led off with a single and the next batter up, Erin Duewel, hit a two-run homer that bounced off the top of the fence and over.
The Redbirds were unable to mount a rally, going down in order in the top of the seventh.
Finck pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits. She did not strike out or walk a batter. Romshek led the offense, finishing 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Strandgard chipped in with two hits.
