By Zach Wadley/Illinois State University Athletics Media Relations
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team scored two runs in two games and dropped a doubleheader to Southern Illinois Friday in Carbondale, Illinois. ISU lost the first game, 1-0, and game two, 4-1.
The Redbirds and Salukis will close the series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
Game 1: Southern Illinois 1 – Illinois State 0
ISU was tasked with facing Brianna Jones, Southern Illinois’ 13-game winner, in game one of the day. The Redbirds left three runners on base in the first two innings, and had a runner thrown out at home to end the top of the second inning.
ISU starter Regan Romshek was smooth through the first four batters of the game, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the second. With one out in the inning, Romshek surrendered three-straight hits, which led to the game’s only run. Merri Ann Patterson singled in Jessica Heese to give Southern Illinois a 1-0 lead.
ISU’s offense sputtered after the second inning, as Jones retired the next nine batters. Romshek was equally impressive through the middle innings, matching Jones out-for-out. Romshek retired nine-straight batters as well from the third inning through the fifth.
Annie Heineman picked up her second hit of the day with a double to lead off the sixth inning, but Jones retired the next three batters to close out the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Southern Illinois also stranded a runner at second base.
With one out in the seventh, Payton Billups recorded her second hit of the game, but ISU was unable to move her around and fell, 1-0.
Romshek pitched six innings and gave up three hits and one earned run. SIU’s only hits and run came in the second inning. Romshek struck out two and did not walk a batter, while facing 22 batters and throwing only 82 pitches.
Heineman and Billups both finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Six of ISU’s past seven games have been decided by one run and the Redbirds are 1-5 in those contests.
Game 2: Southern Illinois 4 – Illinois State 1
After eight scoreless innings to start the day, the Redbirds broke through in the top of the second inning to take an early lead in game two. After Alex Caliva reached on a fielder’s choice, Lauren Prader singled to move her to second. Two batters later, Annie Heineman recorded her second hit of the game with an RBI single that drove in Caliva to give ISU the lead.
ISU starter Sarah Finck was stellar through the first three innings, facing the minimum while allowing one hit. However, in the bottom of the fourth SIU mounted a rally. Kelsey Gonzalez singled to lead off the inning and Shaye Harre brought her in with a single of her own three batters later. With the game tied at one, Jessica Heese then stepped to the plate and launched a two-run homer to make it 3-1.
After ISU went down in order in the top of the fifth, Merri Ann Patterson hit a solo home run off of Finck in the bottom of the frame to make it 4-1. The home run knocked Finck out of the game as ISU turned to Ali Domkuski.
The Redbird offense threatened in the top of the sixth, but left runners at first and third. ISU left nine runners on base for the game. Domkuski did her best to keep ISU in the game, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out four while not allowing a base runner.
However, ISU’s final attempt at a rally was foiled in the seventh with a runner stranded at second. Finck took the loss to fall to 4-11 this season. She pitched 4.1 innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs. She did not walk or strike out a batter.
Heineman finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Prader was 2-for-3.
