Redbird softball falls to MVC rival

Posted on March 26, 2017

 

Illinois State Softball player Shannon Felde extended her 15 game hitting streak in the loss to Wichita State. (Photo: WJBC/ File)

By: WJBC Staff

WICHITA, Kan. – After a pair of commanding wins to open the series in Wichita, Illinois State could not clinch its second sweep of the season, falling to Wichita State, 11-3 in five innings on Sunday afternoon.

Shannon Felde extended her hitting streak to 15 games and on-base streak to 17 games in the setback that moved the Redbirds to 15-13 on the season, 5-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Wichita State’s Katie Malone tossed her 15th win in the circle, improving the Shockers to 17-12 overall, 4-2 in conference.

Riley Strandgard led the Redbirds’ offense with her third home run of 2017, driving two runs. Felde plated the remaining run while Riley Hale was the lone Redbird with multiple hits at two.

Wichita State set the tone early, taking their first lead of the series on a pair of home runs and a Redbird miscue that put five runs on the board in the second inning.

The Redbirds responded with a pair of hits by Annie Heineman and Hale in the third but the runners were left on base.

A double play by Alex Caliva and Allison Spence ended the Shockers’ bases loaded threat in the third inning.

Illinois State jumped on the board on a pair of hits in the fourth, cutting the deficit to four runs. Spence launched a two-out double to the right-center warning track. Felde plated the Redbirds’ first run with an RBI-single to center in the fourth inning.

The Shockers responded with their third home run of the game, plating three runs in the fourth.

The Redbirds would do the same set up by a Hale single. Strandgard launched her third home run of the season to left field, cutting the deficit to five. However, Wichita State ended the game in five innings with three runs on four hits, earning their first win of the series.

Despite striking out her first two batters, Sarah Finck took the loss in 2.0 innings with Felde tossing the final 2.0 innings in relief.

Illinois State looks to bounce back, concluding its 29-game road trip at Illinois on Wednesday. The Redbirds will open their home slate on April 1 and 2 at Marian Kneer Stadium, hosting Southern Illinois.

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