By WJBC Staff
BOCA RATON – Despite solid defense, the Illinois State softball team fell short in a pair of games on Friday to LIU Brooklyn and Florida Atlantic at the FAU Parents’ Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.
With the twin bill decision, The Redbirds dip to 7-11 overall while the Blackbirds and Owls improve to 11-10 and 15-9, respectively.
Game One vs. LIU Brooklyn:
The Redbirds took a 2-0 lead early on LIU Brooklyn, but could not hold on for the win, resulting in a 4-2 setback.
“We started off pretty well but our mistakes let LIU get in the game and we couldn’t get our bats going after that,” head coach Melinda Fischer said.
Both Riley Hale and Shannon Felde recorded two hits apiece with Hale and Abby Turczyn driving in the Redirds’ two runs.
Hale began the game with a leadoff single in the first. The Redbirds’ success continued into the second frame as Alyssa Wiebel started off with a leadoff single. Felde and Annie Heineman followed suit to load the bases before Turczyn took a pitch, giving Illinois State a 1-0 lead. The Redbirds doubled the score before the end of the second on a Hale single.
However, the Blackbirds capitalized on a pair of Redbird miscues to even the score at two runs apiece in the third inning.
Jordan de los Reyes doubled in the fifth. However, the Redbirds could not convert.
After three scoreless innings, LIU took a two-run lead off Samantha Offenback’s homerun.
The Redbirds fought to the end but ultimately came up short by two. Kori Mesecher and Felde both singled in the remaining two innings but could not convert.
Giving up three earned runs, Sarah Finck took the 4-2 loss in her seventh complete game of the season, evening her record at 5-5.
Game Two vs. Florida Atlantic:
The Owls capitalized on their home team advantage, topping the Redbirds, 7-5 to cap off day one of the FAU Parents’ Weekend Tournament.
“We started out the second game a little flat,” Fischer said. “We were heading in the right direction but FAU’s placement of the ball hurt us. Once she started in the fourth inning, Veronique Johnson pitched really well for us coming in in relief. We had some really nice plays defensively”
The Owls struck first putting up a pair of runs on a home run by Lauren Whitt and a Delaney Rickey RBI-single. FAU picked up where they left off, posting five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. Highlighting the frame, de los Reyes threw out two runners stealing second in the first two frames.
The Redbirds responded in the fourth with three runs. Riley Strandgard reached first on an error before Wiebel doubled to right. De los Reyes followed suit with a two-run double to the same spot. Alex Caliva tacked on a third run in the frame with an RBI-single to left. Heineman’s infield single moved runners to the corners, but the pair was left stranded.
Relief pitcher Johnson tossed a four-pitch inning to hold off the Owls in the fourth.
Strandgard led off the fifth with a walk, followed by Wiebel’s second hit of the game sent to left. A fielder’s choice and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Stephanie Thulen entered the game to run at first. A miscue by the Owls allowed two runs to cross the plate, upping the score to 7-5.
The Redbirds and Owls were held scoreless to finalize the game at 7-5 in favor of the home team.
Starting pitcher Ali Domkuski took the loss, facing 16 batters in 2.0 innings while Johnson closed out the final 4.0.
Illinois State continues play at the FAU Tournament with a 10:15 a.m. matchup against Rutgers on Saturday before a pair of games on Sunday to close out the weekend.
