Redbird softball opens MVC play with win over Sycamores

Posted on March 17, 2017
ISU softball
Illinois State concludes the series at Indiana State with an 11 a.m. Saturday doubleheader. (Photo courtesy goredbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – In the first Missouri Valley Conference game of the season, Illinois State topped Indiana State, 8-1, on Friday afternoon in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Sycamores clung to an early 1-0 lead through three innings before the Redbirds put up eight unanswered runs for the 8-1 win.

Riley Hale and Alyssa Wiebel led the offensive efforts for the Redbirds with two hits apiece, while Shannon Felde and Annie Heineman each drove in two runs. With the win to start Valley play, Illinois State improves to 11-12 while Indiana State drops to 13-10.

The Sycamores struck first with one run on a hit and a Redbird miscue in the first, but that would be the end of Indiana State’s scoring.

After three scoreless innings, the Redbirds quickly tied up the game at one before taking a 3-1 lead. Wiebel led off the fourth with an infield single before Allison Spence doubled down the right line to put the Redbirds in scoring position. Heineman tied it up, driving in Wiebel. Caliva capped off the inning with a two-run single, giving Illinois State a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.

The Redbirds doubled their score in the fifth to 6-1. Hale led off the frame with a single through the right side. A pair of walks loaded the bases as Spence plated one run. Two more runs scored on a pair of Sycamore miscues before the inning ended.

Illinois State tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh off Felde and Heineman. Wiebel singled to lead off the inning before Taylor Vanderpool entered the game to run for Jordan de los Reyes who drew a walk. Wiebel crossed the plate as Felde singled down the left line. Heineman plated Vanderpool on a groundout to second.

The Sycamores fought to the end, putting one runner on base in the seventh, but a lineout to Wiebel clinched the 8-1 win.

Sarah Finck tossed her 11th complete game of the season, improving to 8-6. Indiana State starter Kenzie Ihle took the loss in 5.2 innings of work.

The Redbirds and Sycamores wrap up the first conference series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

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