Redbirds fall to Drake in MVC Semifinal

Posted on May 13, 2016

SarahFinck630By ISU Sports Information

CARBONDALE- Nicole Newman struck out 12 batters and Drake scored four runs in the third inning to defeat the Illinois State softball team, 5-1, Friday night in Carbondale, Illinois. The loss ends the Redbirds’ season at 20-33.

Facing the MVC Pitcher of the Year in Newman, the Redbirds were faced with another elite MVC pitcher. Regan Romshek started her third-consecutive game in the circle and battled Newman to start.

Romshek doubled in the top of the first, but was stranded at second. In the bottom of the frame, Drake put together back-to-back singles and an error to load the bases with one out. Kailee Smith then hit a fly ball to right field, which was deep enough to drive in a run. Romshek worked her way out of the inning with no more damage done, but it was the first time in the tournament that ISU trailed.

After a scoreless second inning for both teams, Drake went back to work in the third. With runners at second and third after a pair of hits, Smith laid down a bunt. Kennedy Frank broke for home and Romshek flipped the ball to Jordan de los Reyes, but the tag was not in time. Nicole Newman then singled in a run to make it 3-0 and Sarah Finck entered in relief of Romshek. Tasha Alexander drove in another run with a single to center and Drake led 5-0 after three innings.

Riley Strandgard hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to four. The home run was her sixth of the season and fit just inside the left field foul pole.

Finck was dominant in relief, striking out the side in the fourth and putting the Bulldogs down in order in the fifth. However, Newman was just as strong, striking out the side in the fifth and retiring six in a row after the Strandgard home run in the fourth. The Redbirds were never able to mount a rally against Newman and fell, 5-1.

Finck pitched 3.2 innings in relief and allowed just one hit, while striking out six. Strandgard’s home run was the only run for ISU, while Romshek and Annie Heineman recorded the other two hits for the Redbirds.

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