By ISU Sports Information
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators scored six runs in the sixth inning and handed Illinois State an 11-1 defeat Sunday morning at Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
The loss gives ISU an overall record of 6-14 and the Redbirds finished 3-3 this weekend.
ISU starter Ali Domkuski ran into trouble in the top of the first inning, allowing a hit and two walks to load the bases. With two outs, Domkuski was able to induce an easy pop fly on the infield to get out of the inning.
The Illinois State offense wasted no time in the bottom of the frame as Annie Heineman led off with a single up the middle. Riley Hale followed with a bunt and Heineman beat the throw to second, giving ISU two runners with no outs in the inning. Regan Romshek laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Riley Strandgard then singled up the middle to drive in Heineman and give ISU a 1-0 lead.
Florida tied the game in the top of the second with a solo home run from Kayli Kvistad. It was Kvistad’s second home run of the season. Kvistad then gave Florida the lead in the top of the third with an RBI single to make it 2-1. The base hit knocked Domkuski from the game as ISU turned to Shannon Felde out of the bullpen. Felde surrendered another RBI single to make it 3-1, but got out of the inning with no more damage done.
ISU’s offense was unable to generate a run after the first inning, but Florida scored two more in the top of the fifth. Chelsea Herndon hit a groundball to first and the throw home was late, resulting in the Gators’ fourth run of the game. The next batter, Kelsey Stewart, hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it 5-1.
In the sixth inning, Florida tacked on another run after an error allowed a run to cross the plate. The error was the first of the game for Illinois State. Kvistad stepped to the plate next and drove in her third run of the game with her fourth hit of the day. Aubree Munro followed with an RBI single of her own, and ISU opted to bring in Sarah Finck out of the bullpen.
The Gators would score three more runs in the inning to take an 11-1 lead. Illinois State was unable to score in the bottom of the sixth and fell by run rule.
Strandgard led the offense, finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and an RBI. Heineman and Parker Bandy also recorded hits for ISU. Four Redbird pitchers combined to allow 10 hits while walking eight.
Illinois State will play against Ball State and UCF Tuesday at UCF.
