The Illinois State womens softball team defeated the Southwest Missouri State Bears in game one of the doubleheader played this afternoon at Redbird Softball Complex, 3-0. Game two was suspended in the top of the seventh with the Redbirds leading, 7-2.
Leading off the first game was sophomore Becky McMurtry who crushed a homerun in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Redbirds a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, McMurtry had a lead off single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Cutie Taylor. McMurtry continued on to third on an error by the second baseman. Senior April Schermann singled to left field, bringing McMurtry home.
Melissa Baker gave a repeat performance singling to left field to bring Schermann home, bringing the final score of game one to 3-0.
In the second game of the doubleheader the score remained tied at 0-0 until the top of the fourth inning when Shae Wesley doubled to center field. Wesley advanced on to third on a sacrifice bunt from Bridget Fournie and scored on a double by McMurtry.
Junior Jamie Bagnall homered in the fifth inning to put the Birds up, 2-0. Leading off the sixth inning, Taylor doubled to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Schermann. Bagnalls single to left field scored Taylor.
Freshman Katie Hanko came in to pinch-runner for Bagnall. Hanko advanced to second on a single from Katie Shifflet. Abbie Scott walked to load the bases. Wesley reached on a fielders choice. Hanko and Shifflet both scored on the play.
In the bottom of the sixth the Bears responded by scoring two runs.
McMurtry started the seventh inning off with her second homerun of the day, her fifth this season. Taylor singled to right field and scored on Schermanns double to left field.
In the top of the seventh inning, the game was suspended due to rain and will resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. instead of the original time of 12 p.m. with the final game of the series immediately following.
