By: WJBC Staff
WICHITA, Kan. – Outhitting the Shockers 20-13, Illinois State did not trail throughout the twin bill, topping Wichita State twice on Saturday at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Sarah Finck tossed the Redbirds’ 5-3 win to begin doubleheader while the committee of Ali Domkuski, Veronique Johnson, and Shannon Felde closed out the day for the 8-3 victory.
“We had a different part of the batting order really step up for us, especially in the first game today,” head coach Melinda Fischer said. “We were more spread out in the second game. Our pitchers did a nice job in the circle. There were great contributions from our pitching staff all the way around today. We had key hits in key situations to drive runs across the plate.”
Seven Redbirds logged multi-hit games in the doubleheader while both Riley Strandgard and Annie Heineman drove in two runs apiece in the first game. In game two, Felde plated three runs while Strandgard knocked in two more, totaling four on the day. Allison Spence accounted for one RBI in each game of the doubleheader.
With the pair of wins, Illinois State improves to 15-12 overall in sole possession of first place in the Valley with a 5-0 record. Wichita State falls to 16-12 on the season, 3-2 in league play.
Game One: W, 5-3
Illinois State’s 11th double play of the season via the Strandgard-Alex Caliva-Spence combination set the tone for the day early on in the second inning as Wichita State would be held to a mere three runs.
Caitlyn Daly opened up the third with a single up the middle. Riley Hale put down a sacrifice bunt to advance her to second, but a quick three outs ended the frame.
Spence ended the drought, launching her second home run of the season to left. Felde extended her hitting streak to 13 games before a groundout closed the inning.
The Shockers logged their first hit of the game in the fourth inning, followed by two more singles to knot the game at one run apiece.
Daly sent the ball to right for her second hit of the day as she led off the fifth. Caliva follows suit, dropping a single into left-center. Strandgard answered the call with her fourth double of the season, driving the pair on base to give the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.
Led by Alyssa Wiebel’s impressive line-drive snag in the fifth, the Shockers logged a mere eight base runners throughout the contest.
The Redbirds opened up the sixth with three consecutive hits to take a 5-1 lead. Spence singled down the right line, allowing runner Taylor Vanderpool to take first. A pair of doubles by Felde and Heineman made it a four-run game with the centerfielder collecting a pair of RBIs. Caliva sent her second hit of the day to left before the frame ended on a pair of fly outs.
The Shockers doubled their score with a solo-shot to center in the sixth before doing the same to lead off the bottom of the seventh. However, the Redbirds held of the Shockers for the 5-3 win.
In her 13th complete game, Finck tossed her 10th win of the season while Katie Malone took the loss.
Game Two: W, 8-3
The Redbirds picked up where they left off, taking a 3-0 lead on a pair of hits. After Hale drew a leadoff walk, Strandgard singled down the right-line to put runners in scoring position. Hale crossed the plate when Spence put the ball in play. Strandgard doubled the score on a pass ball before Felde doubled to left field, plating Illinois State’s third run.
Wichita State threatened in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of singles and walks but Jordan de los Reyes threw down to Abby Turczyn to pick off the runner. A groundout to Domkuski allowed the Redbirds to escape the bases-loaded jam.
Strandgard drove in Illinois State’s fourth run of the game on a double to right-center, plating Kori Mesecher in the second.
The Redbirds plated three more runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Turczyn drew a four-pitch walk that called for Vanderpool to run. A Mesecher sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position before Hale drew the second walk of the inning. A pair of wild pitches allowed for the first run of the frame to come home. Strandgard launched her third hit of the day, plating Hale before stealing second. De los Reyes put the Redbirds on the corners on a single. Felde accounted for the final run of the fourth on a single to right field that allowed Strandgard to score.
The Shockers cut their deficit to four on a trio of walks before a double down the right line plated the second run of the fifth. A double play by the Hale-de los Reyes combination held off Wichita State in the bases loaded situation.
Illinois State responded in the sixth as Felde logged her third hit of the game, driving in Stephanie Thulen who ran for de los Reyes on her single to left field.
The Shockers made contact in each of their final three at-bats, but the Redbirds’ flawless defense behind Felde solidified the 8-3 win.
Domkuski tossed 3.0 innings, allowing a single run against 15 batters in her ninth start of the season. After strikeout against her first batter, Johnson faced seven batters, accounting for two runs. Felde closed out the final 3.0 innings, holding the Shockers scoreless to earn the win. Shockers’ starter Jenni Brooks took the loss.
The Redbirds wrap up the series at Wichita Sunday at 11 a.m. Illinois State concludes its 29-game road trip at Illinois on Tuesday before hosting Southern Illinois for the home opener on April 1 and 2 at Marian Kneer Stadium.
