By Zach Wadley
WICHITA – The Illinois State softball team defeated Bradley, 11-7, in a slugfest to win its opening round Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game Thursday in Wichita, Kansas. The Redbirds will now face third-seeded Northern Iowa at approximately 6:04 p.m. Thursday night.
Offense came early and often for both teams as the Redbirds opened the game scoring two runs in the top of the first. After a leadoff walk to Annie Heineman, Regan Romshek belted a two-run homer to give ISU a 2-0 lead.
Bradley came right back in the bottom of the first with a rally of its own. Kelly Kapp led off with a double and Maria Schroeder singled her home. Later in the inning, Shannon King drove in Schroeder to tie the game.
ISU struck back in the top of the second as Kara Repp led off with a single. After a sacrifice bunt moved Repp to second, Heineman hit a single to drive her in and give the Redbirds a 3-2 lead.
Bradley came back with a run in the bottom of the frame as Kapp scored on an error. With the game tied at three, Jordan de los Reyes led off the third inning with a solo home run to put ISU back on top, 4-3. However, Bradley mounted a comeback for the third-straight inning. King led off the bottom of the frame with a game-tying, solo home run.
After a scoreless fourth inning, ISU posted two more runs in the top of the fifth. De los Reyes walked to lead off the inning and later came in to score. Payton Billups was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and that brought in Riley Strandgard.
Romshek, ISU’s starter in the circle, worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth and her offense extended the lead in the top of the sixth. After Heineman and Romshek both reached base, Gallant launched a three-run homer to make it 9-4. Later in the inning, Billups sent a two-run homer out to centerfield that scored Strandgard.
Trailing 11-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Bradley once again mounted a rally. After a single from Elizabeth Leonard, Kapp drove her in with a triple. It was Kapp’s fourth hit of the day. The next batter up, Schroeder, clubbed a two-run homer to make it 11-7.
Romshek worked her way out of the inning and then slammed the door shut in the bottom of the seventh. It was ISU’s first win at the MVC Tournament since 2012 and ISU tied the Valley record for most home runs in a single game with four.
ISU advances to face third-seeded Northern Iowa at approximately 6:04 p.m. Thursday night. The Redbirds won two out of three games against UNI this season.
