Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
The Indiana State softball team fell behind early and could never recover as they were swept in the season series by Illinois State after falling by a final score of 10-7 Tuesday at Price Field.
The Sycamores found themselves in a hole early as the Redbirds led off the game with a home run and then added four more runs to take a 5-0 lead over the Sycamores in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom half of the inning the Sycamores responded when junior first baseman Bailey Wittenauer singled through the right side to score sophomore right fielder and leadoff hitter Kim Pierce. Junior catcher Olivia Andres then singled to load the bases with just one out. The very next batter, senior left fielder Stephanie Jonson then grounded into a fielders choice to the short stop but it was enough to score freshman center fielder Alex Baumgart and cut the Redbird lead to 5-2 before the Sycamore rally stalled.
The Sycamores then dug even further into the Redbird lead in the bottom of the third inning when junior second baseman Stephanie Robinson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Wittenauer then crushed her seventh home run of the season over the left field wall to make cut the Redbird lead to one at 5-4.
The Redbirds answered the Sycamores call, however, as they added a run in the top of the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 7-4.
In the bottom half of the fifth the Sycamores tried to respond again, this time with two outs, as Robinson singled and then reached second on a throwing error to get into scoring position. Wittenauer once again delivered for the Sycamores as she singled to right field to score Robinson and make it a 7-5 contest.
The Redbirds came right back though as they added a run in the top of the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh to give them a 10-5 lead over the Sycamores.
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Sycamores began to rally, started off by a walk by Baumgart followed by a single through the right side by Robinson. Once again, Wittenauer then delivered for the Sycamores as she got her fourth hit of the game in as many at bats, this time a single back up the middle to score Baumgart and cut the lead to 10-6. Andres then reached on a throwing error by the Redbird pitcher and scored Robinson to make it a 10-7 game. The Sycamores could get no closer, however, as they fell by a final score of 10-7.
Wittenauer finished the game 4-4 at the plate with five RBI's and one run scored for the Sycamores.
The loss gives the Redbirds the season sweep over the Sycamores after the Sycamores dropped both games of a double header in Normal, Ill. on April 20.
The Sycamores will return to action Wednesday when they travel to face the Panthers of Eastern Illinois in their final non-conference game of the season. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Charleston, Ill.
