Blaine Kinsey

GoSycamores.com

NORMAL, Ill.—The Indiana State softball team broke the school record for double plays turned in a season but fell in a double header against Illinois State Saturday in Normal, Ill.

 GAME ONE

The Sycamores fell behind early in the first game of the day and could never fight their way back as they fell by a final score of 8-0.

Senior Kelsey Montgomery led off the game with a single but the Sycamores weren't able to take advantage and take an early lead.

The Redbirds answered in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs to jump out to an early advantage. 

In the bottom of the second, junior Rylee Holland caught a fly ball in right field and made a perfect throw to second base to double off the Redbird runner to tie the ISU record with 24 double plays turned on the season.

The Sycamores couldn't keep the Redbirds off the board, however, as they plated one in the third and five in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead.

Indiana State threatened in the top of the fifth as freshman Monique Castillo led off with a walk before senior Alexa Cavin doubled to right center to put runners on second and third. The Sycamores were unable to push any runs across, however, as they fell by a final score of 8-0.

GAME TWO

Despite holding an early lead, the Indiana State softball team couldn't hold off the Redbird offense as they fell in game two of the doubleheader 8-5.

Montgomery again led off the game with a bunt single before freshman Bailey Martin singled to put two runners on. After a fielders choice, freshman Shaye Barton then loaded the bases with a single before junior Brooke Riemenschneider hit a two RBI double to left field to give the Sycamores a 2-0 lead.

Cavin then laid down a perfect squeeze to extend the lead even further, scoring Barton to make it 3-0 Indiana State after one half inning.

All of the Redbird runs came in the same inning, the bottom of the second, when they scored eight runs off four hits and four walks to take an 8-3 lead.

Indiana State answered in the top of the fourth when Cavin led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Castillo. After a Malchow single, junior Kassie Brown then hit an RBI single to score Cavin and make it 8-4.

The Sycamores struck once again in the top of the sixth when Castillo hit a towering home run over the left field wall, her second of the season, to cut thte Redbird advantage to 8-5.

Indiana State threatened in the top of the seventh when Montgomery hit a one out single and got to second to bring the tying run to the on deck circle but the Sycamores couldn't extend the game, falling 8-5.

In the loss, the Sycamores turned two additional double plays to take the school record in double plays turned outright at 26. Indiana State was ranked second in the NCAA in double plays entering the weekend.

The finale of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT in Normal, Ill.