After three tournaments where senior
April Schermannhas led the Illinois State softball team with a team-high .500 batting average, the Redbirds will look to continue its hitting streak as they travel to Bowling Green, Ky., this weekend to participate in the Western Kentucky Spring Softball Classic.
Along with the Redbirds (6-6) and Western Kentucky (4-2), Marshall (7-6) and Oakland (2-2) are the other teams competing in the tournament. This weekend will mark the first time Illinois State has competed against any of the schools participating in the classic.
Leading the Birds along with Schermann is junior
Jamie Bagnall and sophomore
Becky McMurtry. Bagnall has a .345 batting average, second best on the team, and has 10 hits and four RBI. McMurtrys .324 batting average ranks third on the team and her four doubles ranks first.
In the circle, the Redbirds are geared by senior hurler
Nicole Kurth, a preseason all-MVC selection, and
Corey Harris. In ISUs 4-0 win over Syracuse last weekend at the Texas A&M Tournament, Harris pitched her first shutout of the year and notched her third victory. Along with Kurth, Harris has a 3-2 win/loss mark but leads the team with a 1.97 ERA.
After a rain-delayed tournament in Texas last weekend where ISUs games were canceled Friday and Saturday, the Redbirds were able to get in two games Sunday which included a loss to Iowa and the win against Syracuse. Head coach
Melinda Fischer said the team tried to make adjustments to the weather but came up short.
We really came out strong against Iowa in the first couple of innings then we just fell apart, Fischer said. We didnt have our consistency anymore. What we had accomplished in Alabama and Arizona was gone in every possible way. From the mound to the infield to the outfield to the plate, we just couldnt get anything done after we fell behind.
In the second ballgame against Syracuse, I think we stepped it up a little, Fischer said. It was one of those weekends where every team played two games Sunday and they each did better in game two. But we still made what I like to call Horton errors, where we didnt run as hard for balls because if you do that in Horton Field House you run into a wall. So the adjustments didnt come and you have to be able to do that.
Fischer added that Harris appearance on the mound in game two helped to lead off the game on a stronger note because once she started strong, it enhanced every other position.
Corey did a good job of coming out and starting strong, which usually she has to work at throughout the game, Fischer added. I think that helped in game two to get the team confident in every position.
This weekend will be different though, facing teams we havent seen before, Fischer continued. Western Kentucky is tough but I dont know much about Marshall or Oakland. I just hope we come ready to play and make necessary adjustments early.
