By ISU Sports Information
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Shannon Felde drove in the tying run in the top of the sixth inning, but UNI answered in the bottom half of the frame to defeat the Illinois State softball team, 2-1, in the regular season finale Sunday in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Redbirds received another quality outing from Regan Romshek in the circle, but stranded seven runners on base, including five in scoring position.
UNI’s Chelsea Ross helped herself out in the bottom of the first inning to give the Panthers an early lead. After putting the Redbirds down in order in the top of the frame, Ross doubled into the left-center gap to drive in the game’s first run.
Both teams struggled to move runners around following the first inning. UNI left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second when Romshek induced a fly ball to left to end the inning. UNI put all three runners on base with two outs.
The Redbirds had their first quality opportunity of the game in the next half inning. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Annie Heineman broke up a no-hitter with a bunt single. Romshek followed with a double and Jordan de los Reyes walked to load the bases. However, Ross found her way out of the jam with a ground ball fielder’s choice and the score remained 1-0.
ISU threatened again in the fourth when Allison Spence singled and Felde walked. After Alex Caliva moved the runners over to second and third with a bunt single, Ross was able to get a double play ball to get out of the inning. Lauren Prader grounded to short and was thrown out at first. UNI then threw home to get Kori Mesecher who was pinch-running for Spence.
UNI left two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth and Illinois State finally broke through in the top of the sixth. After Riley Strandgard reached on an error to open the inning, Spence recorded her second hit of the day, a single to center. Felde then delivered the big hit, a single to left that scored Strandgard to tie the game at one.
However, the tie game would not last long and UNI responded in the bottom of the sixth. Bailey Lange reached on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a double from Courtney Krodinger to retake the lead.
The Redbirds were unable to rally in the seventh and finish the regular season with an 18-32 overall record and a 10-14 record in the MVC. Romshek pitched seven innings and allowed six hits and two runs. She did not strike out a batter and walked one.
At the plate, Heineman and Spence each recorded two hits, while Felde went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and a walk.
The Redbirds now shift their attention to postseason play as the MVC Tournament begins Thursday in Carbondale. ISU will be the No. 7 seed and will take on No. 6 seed Evansville at 1:34 p.m. Thursday.
