Junior Jamie Bagnalls game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Illinois State softball team to a 4-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader against Creighton, Saturday, in ISUs Missouri Valley Conference opener in Omaha, Neb.
The Redbirds (13-7, 2-0) took two from the Bluejays, who fell to 9-16 overall and 0-5 in the Valley. ISU won game one 3-0, its fifth shutout of the season.
Despite the below-average temperatures, Illinois State head coach
Melinda Fischer was impressed with her teams play, given the team hasnt competed in over two weeks. Its regularly scheduled conference opener against Bradley was cancelled last weekend due to bad weather in Normal, Ill.
We played well, maybe a little sloppy at the end of game two, but well, Fischer said. Having not played in so long, the team came out strong and was very impressive.
Pitcher Nicole Kurth allowed one run while blanking 10 Bluejay batters in the first game en route to her sixth win of season. Cutie Taylors two-run homer in the third, her first of the season, after a double by Shae Wesley gave ISU the early lead, which it held onto.
In game two, the Redbirds went up early, leading by three after five innings. Creighton answered back, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth, but Bagnalls single into right field with one out and bases loaded proved to be the game winner.
Jamies hit was huge and I think not one person in the ballpark wanted that game to last any longer than it did, Fischer continued. She came up big as did everyone in that inning, with getting on base and being able to score.
I was very proud of the fact we didnt back down in that first game, Fischer continued. We kept our lead and then came back and beat them in the second game. It showed them we wont back out and hopefully it made us even hungrier to come out tomorrow and finish off the series.
The Birds play a single-game against Creighton Sunday at noon in Omaha, Neb., to wrap-up the series.
