Thanksgiving break marked the fourth international tour for ISU’s women’s softball program. The Redbirds stayed in Curaçao, an island in the Caribbean, from Nov. 16-24. ISU competed in eight games as well as participated in philanthropic services and softball clinics for the locals.

“This is a great opportunity for our players and staff to learn a lot about another culture, country, way of life and way of playing softball,” ISU head coach Melinda Fischer said. “You not only learn things about people from other parts of the world, but you learn about yourselves and how you adjust to a different situation.”

The Redbirds played Monday through Thursday against Pichingolo Nissan, S.B.C., The One, S.B.C. Soto, S.B.C. Paradise, S.B.C. Santa Rosa Angels and a junior baseball team.

ISU’s first day of competition was successful as the team defeated Soto CMTC, 13-0. The first game began with Regan Romshek at the mound and two runs in the first inning, by Lauren Kellar and Laura Canopy. As ISU came back to bat in the second inning, the ’Birds continued smashing the ball and earned eight runs by Kara Repp, Kellar, Jhavon Hamilton, Canopy, Elizabeth Kay, Brittny Drish, Kelsey Turczyn and Molly Cull.

During the third inning Hamilton cranked out a home run, and Repp and Kellar scored again in the fourth giving the team an upper hand at 13-0.  Romshek walked one player and struck out seven. ISU claimed their first victory, as the game was called after only four innings.

“With this being my fourth international tour, every place that we have been has been very unique,” Fischer said. “This is a festive atmosphere. The crowd has a good time, but they are very respectful to the game. Additionally, it was great to get back out in game competition.”

The Redbirds began with a 2-0 lead in the second game, and then allowed Pichingolo to bring in a run in the bottom of the second. Taylor Baxter allowed one run and two walks, while still striking out seven. ISU kept its momentum with Canopy’s sacrifice fly and Stephanie Gallant’s RBI double, scoring two more runs in the third en route to defeating Pichingolo 4-1.

“We saw some things from the first game that we had been working on emphasizing that we succeeded in transferring from practice to a game setting, but I thought there were a couple of things we still need improvement on,” Fischer said.

During the second day of competition, ISU played the same teams they defeated the day before, Soto and Pichingolo and once again came out on top, defeating the teams 9-0 and 7-0, respectively.

The Redbirds took an early 1-0 lead in their first game before a two-out rally in the third inning with the ’Birds scoring six runs.

Romshek kept her rhythm at the mound by pitching a shutout in game two. The women began strong at bat, earning three runs including a double from Kellar. ISU extended its lead in the fourth as Nichelle Harrison had an RBI groundout to give the Redbirds a 4-0 lead. Gallant had a solo home run before Lindsey Greene sent Bradley home with a single to bring the Redbirds to a 7-0 win.

ISU continued to show off its skills, but in a different setting. The team helped provide a softball clinic to teach strength and conditioning, injury prevention, hitting, fielding, catching and pitching. After the softball clinic it was time again to play, but this time against Santa Rosa Angels and an all-star team. The undefeated streak continued as ISU beat both teams, 11-0 and 7-2, respectively.

During the last day filled with softball, the Redbirds faced a junior baseball team and an intrasquad scrimmage. They won against the junior baseball team, 6-3, and participated in community service by painting classrooms and offices at a school for children with special needs.

“This trip is about so much more than softball, and I think everybody will realize that when they talk with our girls about the experience and what they got out of it,” Fischer said.