By: WJBC Staff
BATON ROUGE, La. – Fighting until the last out, Illinois State dropped a 7-3 decision to No. 10 Minnesota on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the LSU Tiger Invite.
The Gophers took an early two-run lead before the Redbirds responded with three unanswered runs to lead 3-2 until the sixth inning. Despite Illinois State drawing a walk with a pair of hits, Minnesota put up two runs in the sixth and the final three in the seventh to earn the win.
“We played extremely well with the exception of the sixth inning,” head coach Melinda Fischer said. “We got out of a bases-loaded jam on a double play. We did a lot of really nice things but just got in a hole that we couldn’t come back from.”
Both Riley Hale and Allison Spence went 2-for-3 with Hale also scoring and driving in one run. Riley Strandgard and Jordan de los Reyes drove in the Illinois State’s two remaining runs. The Redbirds dip to 7-9 on the season, while the Gophers remain unscathed with an 18-0 mark.
“We learned a lot this weekend, both positives and negatives,” Fischer said. “Next weekend will be great for us before starting conference play. It’ll be a different environment and we have to come ready to play.”
Before the matchup was halted due to rain, Spence started strong for the Redbirds, singling up the middle.
Following 1 hour and 12 minute delay, the Gophers put one run on the board with a pair of singles and sac-fly in the bottom of the second. Alyssa Wiebel took first after taking the pitch. Riley Phipps advanced her to second on a sac-bunt before a double play ended the frame.
Minnesota doubled the score with an RBI-single in the third. However, Alex Caliva led off the bottom half of the inning with hit-by-pitch, then advancing to second on a wild pitch. Hale drew a walk to put two on for the Redbirds. A pass ball put the Redbirds in scoring position before Strandgard sent the ball to center for an RBI-single. On a full-count, Spence drew a walk to load the bases. De los Reyes put the ball in play to allow Hale score, evening up the score at 2-2.
In the fourth, Sarah Finck struck out the leadoff batter before Spence ended the frame with two unassisted putouts. Minnesota’s pitcher Amber Fiser issued her third walk to the Redbirds so Carlie Brandt took the circle. Phipps advanced to third on an illegal pitch and wild pitch before Annie Heineman drew a walk to put Redbirds on the corners. Caliva advanced the runners to second and third. Hale gave the Redbirds their first lead of the day, sending an RBI-single up the middle for the 3-2 advantage in the fourth.
A trio of walked loaded the bases for Minnesota before a 5-2-3 double play and a quick groundout held off the Gophers. Spence led off the bottom of the frame with a single to center with Stephanie Thulen coming in to run at first. However, Minnesota ended the inning, stranding one on base.
The Gophers took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on three hits and a Redbird miscue. Illinois State made a pitching change in the frame with both runs attributed to the starter with Ali Domkuski facing four batters in relief to close the inning.
In the sixth, Caliva walked before Hale sent the ball to right her second hit of the day. However, a fly-out to center ended the frame.
The Gophers tacked on a fifth run in the seventh before Finck reentered the circle to close out the game. Minnesota put up two additional runs in the inning, upping the score to 7-3.
The Redbirds fought until the end with a single by Wiebel but the Gophers clinched the 7-3 win.
Starter Finck took the loss in 5.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts while Domkuski tossed 1.1 innings in relief. Minnesota’s Brandt earned the win for the Gophers.
The Redbirds return to action Friday at the Florida Atlantic Parents’ Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.
