Illinois State Takes Two, Bradley Splits

EVANSVILLE, Ind.. – Seven home runs and two complete games in the circle led Illinois State to two wins over Evansville on Saturday afternoon, extending the Redbirds’ Missouri Valley winning streak to 14 games.

A 10-run third inning and a Sarah Finck one-hitter paved the way for game one’s 18-0 shutout win in five innings. Despite an Evansville run in the first inning, Illinois State’s momentum continued into game two, tallying three home runs in an Ali Domkuski complete game for the 10-1 win in six innings.

With three home runs in the doubleheader, Jordan de los Reyes reset the Illinois State career home run record now with 54 during her tenure. Caitlyn Daly matched her Saturday total with three gone-balls in game one. Daly’s seven RBIs in the premier game tied the Illinois State single-game record. Allison Spence slugged the Redbirds’ first grand slam in two seasons in the second game of the day.

 “Just a great offensive production today,” head coach Melinda Fischer said. We played two solid ballgames. We had great pitching from both Sarah and Ali. We had consistent hitting throughout the lineup. Caitlyn Daly really stepped up and had a day for us. Jordan, what can you say? That’s just awesome.”

The Redbirds earned their 30th win of the season and 20th MVC win to hold 30-17 and 20-3 records, respectively. The Aces fall to 20-29 and 11-12 in league play. Illinois State and Evansville conclude the series on Sunday with an 11 a.m. first pitch.

Game One: W, 18-0

Four home runs and a Finck one-hitter gave the Redbirds their 13th consecutive Missouri Valley win with the 18-0 decision. Both Daly and de los Reyes went 3-for-3 with seven and five RBIs, respectively.

The Redbirds jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Riley Hale took first on a hit pitch before de los Reyes brought her home with single to left.

Illinois State continued to attack in the second inning, scoring five runs on a pair of extra base hits and a sac-fly. Daly belted her second home run of the season to left, scoring three runs. A Shannon Felde RBI-double and a de los Reyes sac-fly upped the score to 6-0 by the end of the second.

The Redbirds’ offense exploded in the third inning with 10 runs on six hits and a pair of Aces’ miscues. After an Annie Heineman double, Daly rocketed her second gone-ball of the day to center. Alex Caliva singled before a pair of walks loaded the bases to set up for de los Reyes’ two-run double to center. Riley Strandgard and Heineman plated Illinois State’s 10th and 11th runs, respectively on an error and walk before two more runs scored on an Evansville failed pickoff and an error. Daly’s second home run of the inning and third of the day cleared the bases, upping her RBI total to seven – tying an Illinois State single-game record.

In the fourth, de los Reyes slugged her record tying home run to center to match 2008-11 alum Abby Olson’s Illinois State career home run record. The Redbirds capped off the game with a run in the fifth after a pair of walks and an Anni Borries (Teutopolis graduate) single, plating Stephanie Thulen.

The Aces’ lone hit came on two outs in the bottom of the fifth by Tess Hupe through the left side. However, Finck closed out the game with a strikeout – the same way she started her second career one-hitter.

Finck tossed her 21st win of the season and her 24th complete game. Evansville’s starter Morgan Florey took the loss in 2.0 innings of work.

Game Two: W, 10-1

The Aces struck first with a Florey RBI-single through the left side to take a one-run lead in the first inning. However, that would be the first and last Evansville run of the day.

In the third inning, the Redbirds picked up where the left off from game one, scoring four runs with three hits. Two walks and Hale single loaded the bases, setting the stage for Spence’s grand slam – the Redbirds’ first since March 21, 2015.

Caliva’s hit-by-pitch and Hale’s single down the right line set up for de los Reyes’ record breaking hit in the fourth inning. On a full count, de los Reyes rocketed her 53rd career home run straight back for the Illinois State career home run record, surpassing Abby Olson’s 52 dingers during her 2008 to 2011 career.

Evansville’s Brittany Hay knocked a single to left in the bottom of the inning but the Redbirds’ would keep her on the bases.

Domkuski fanned five batters in her fourth complete game of the season, earning her fourth win of the season.

Bradley Splits Weekend Wins

Bradley pitchers Jaelen Hull and Emma Jackson combined to hold Loyola to three hits, while junior Elizabeth Leonard was 3-for-4 with one RBI to help the Braves to a 4-1 victory in the series opener against the Ramblers Friday night.
 
Hull did not surrender a hit until an Alyssa Mannucci single to open the fourth and struck out four in her third start of the year.  She gave up just one run as she earned her team-best ninth victory (9-5) of the season and improved to 6-0 in her career against Loyola.
 
A two-run first inning gave Hull and the Braves (20-29, 6-16 MVC) an early lead.  Senior Kelly Kapp was hit by a pitch to open the game and later scored on a single by fellow senior Caitlyn McCarron.  Leonard drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a single up the middle to plate McCarron as Bradley led 2-0 after the top of the first.
 
Hull kept Loyola (25-22 overall, 8-14 MVC) off the scoreboard until the fourth.  An infield single by Mannucci to open the inning was the first of three hits on the night for Loyola.  Mannucci came around to score on a triple by Brooke Wilson as the Ramblers cut Bradley’s in half at 2-1.
 
The Braves added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to push the advantage to 4-1.  Bradley loaded the bases on singles by Leonard and freshman Allison Apke, a Teutopolis graduate, along with a Megan Mahaffy walk to start the inning.  Sophomore Gabby Stoner drew a one-out walk to drive in a run and Kapp drove in the second run of the frame with a groundout.
 
Freshman Emma Jackson took over for Hull in the circle to open the fifth inning and held Loyola hitless until a one-out infield single in the bottom of the seventh.  Jackson got a strikeout and fly out to close out the contest and earn the first save of her Bradley career.  

Loyola’s Katie Kasubke homered in each of her final two at bats and drove in all five Rambler runs as Bradley fell 5-3 Saturday morning.  The third game of the series was cancelled due to cold and rain in the Chicago area.
 
Bradley (20-30 overall, 6-17 MVC) led for most of the contest after scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first.  Senior Kelly Kapp led off the game with a bunt single and stole second for her 40th steal of the season.  Junior Maria Schroeder drew a one-out walk and both base runners came home later in the inning on a single up the middle by freshman Kealia Wysocki as the Braves grabbed a 2-0 advantage.
 
Starter Julie Kestas got out of a first-inning jam as Loyola (26-22 overall, 9-14 MVC) left the bases loaded.  The Ramblers stranded a total of nine runners in the first five inning, leaving a pair on in both the second and fourth.
 
Bradley left runners in scoring position in both the third and fifth, before Loyola tied it up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Alyssa Mannucci led off the Rambler fifth with a single to center and Kasubke followed with a two-run homer to left as Loyola pulled even in the game at 2-2.
 
The Braves went back in front with a run in the top of the sixth.  McCarron opened the frame with her second hit of the contest and Bradley had runners at first and second after a Wysocki single.  Freshman Allison Apke was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases and sophomore Megan Mahaffy gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Loyola answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 5-3 lead.  Shannon McGee drew a four-pitch walk and Erica Nagel had an infield single off Bradley reliever Emma Jackson to put runners at first and second.  Jackson got Mannucci to foul out for the second out of the inning and was one pitch from getting out of the inning.  Kasubke was facing an 0-2 count when she ripped her second homer of the day, hitting a three-run shot to left center as Loyola went in front 5-3.
 
Loyola hurler Kiley Jones retired Bradley in order in the top of the seventh as the Ramblers took the game 5-3.  The victory was the 18th of the year for Jones, who tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.