By ISU Sports Information
CHICAGO – The Illinois State softball team’s seventh inning rally came up just short Sunday as the Redbirds lost to Loyola, 5-4, in the series finale in Chicago. ISU scored three runs in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Redbirds fall to 15-28 overall and 7-10 in the MVC.
After scoring just two runs in 14 innings yesterday, the Loyola offense came out swinging Sunday. The Ramblers put three runs on the board in the first inning off of ISU starter Regan Romshek. After Erica Nagel doubled to lead off the inning, she was singled in by Jamie O’Brien. Two batters later, Jacquelyn Murphy hit the first home run of the series, a two-run shot to make it 3-0.
In the second inning, Brie Pasquale hit a solo home run with one out to knock Romshek out of the game. ISU turned to Sarah Finck and the first batter she faced, Katy LaCivita, hit a solo homer as well to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Redbird offense went quietly through the first three innings. Shannon Felde was the only ISU hitter to reach base, drawing a walk in the third. However, the Redbirds came alive in the fourth inning. Romshek, Jordan de los Reyes and Riley Strandgard led off the inning with three-straight singles to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Romshek to score, but the Redbirds were unable to drive in de los Reyes and Strandgard.
Following the home run in the second, Finck settled in and faced 11 batters over the next three innings. She did not allow a run, but her counterpart Kiley Jones was equally as good. Jones allowed the one run, but would not allow a Redbird hitter to get past first base after that until the seventh inning.
ISU trailed by four heading into the seventh, but mounted a rally. Payton Billups and Alex Caliva led off with singles and Felde drove in a run with a single of her own. Two batters later, Romshek singled in a pair of runs to cut the deficit to one. However, with runners on first and second, Loyola was able to record the final out and take the series finale.
Finck pitched five innings and allowed three hits and one run, while striking out two and walking one. Romshek and de los Reyes both finished 2-for-4 and Romshek scored a run and drove in two more. Felde finished 2-for-2.
The Redbirds will play five games this week beginning with a doubleheader Tuesday at home against Bradley. Game times are set for 3 and 5 p.m.
