The Illinois State womens softball team defeated the Southwest Missouri State Bears in games two and three this afternoon at Redbird Softball Complex, 8-2, 8-0, sweeping the three game series after yesterdays win.
Game two resumed today, due to yesterdays rain delay, in the top of the seventh inning with the Redbirds leading, 7-2. Stephanie Beyer, who was pinch-running for April Schermann, scored the final run of the game off of Jamie Bagnalls single to left field, bringing the final score to 8-2.
Sophomore Becky McMurtry jump-started the Redbirds offense with a two-out walk in the bottom of the first inning of game three. Cutie Taylor stepped to the plate and smashed a two-run homerun to put the Birds up 2-0.
The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third inning when McMurtry reached on an error by first baseman Jami Canada. McMurtry advanced to second when Taylor grounded out to third. Schermann belted a two-run homer, bringing the score to 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corey Harris started things off with a double to left field. Harris advanced to third on Jenni Neeleys single to third base. Neeley stole second. Neeley and Harris both scored on a triple by Shae Wesley.
McMurtry was hit by a pitch, putting runners at the corners. Taylor singled to centerfield, bringing home Wesley and McMurtry. The Redbirds scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, bringing the score to 8-0.
The Birds held the Bears in the top of the fifth inning ending the game with a final score of 8-0. According to NCAA rules, if a team is up by eight runs after five innings, the game is declared by the home plate umpire.
Pitcher Nicole Kurth had eight strikeouts for the day.
I really thought we played well this weekend, head coach
Melinda Fischer said. We took advantage of every opportunity we had and everyone was able to contribute.
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