Redbird softball head coach Melinda Fischer (Photo courtesy of GoRedbirds.com)
By WJBC staff
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Illinois State softball team dropped two games Saturday in College Station, Texas, to Texas-San Antonio and No. 22 Texas A&M. With the losses the Redbirds are now 7-12 this season.
After defeating UTSA 7-0 on Friday, Illinois State found itself on the losing end Saturday. The teams played to a scoreless tie through three innings of play, but in the fourth, the Roadrunners struck first. UTSA took a 1-0 lead off a solo home run.
However, ISU fought back in the top of the fourth. Annie Heineman led off with a bunt single and later scored on an RBI double from Regan Romshek. One batter later, Jordan de los Reyes singled to bring Romshek home and give ISU its first lead of the day.
It would not hold long though, as UTSA tacked on four runs in the bottom of the frame. All four runs scored with two outs in the inning, and the rally was highlighted by a three-run blast from Megan Low.
ISU tried to answer, loading the bases in the sixth, but Romshek went down swinging to end the inning. The Roadrunners added two more in the bottom of the inning and won by a final tally of 7-2.
Romshek took the loss in the circle, giving up eight hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings of work.
ISU played much better in game two against the 22nd-ranked Aggies. After losing 16-1 Friday night, the Redbirds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a De los Reyes RBI single. A&M responded, scoring two in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.
ISU came right back at Texas A&M in the top of the second. Riley Strandgard launched her second home run of the season to left field and tied the game at two. It would stay that way until the fifth.
A Payton Billups RBI double drove in the go-ahead run and Romshek, who had cruised for much of the game, shut down the Aggies 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, Romshek and Sarah Finck walked the bases loaded and A&M rallied to score five runs and take a 7-3 lead. They would hold ISU in the seventh and take the victory, dropping the Redbirds to 7-12 this season.
Romshek took the loss, giving up five hits and four runs in five innings of work. Heineman led ISU with a 2-4 effort that included two runs and two stolen bases.
ISU has one game remaining in College Station. The Redbirds will face Boston University Sunday morning at 10 a.m. A live audio broadcast will be available on GoRedbirds.com.
