Illinois State won its sixth straight game in MVC Tournament play, eliminating Southern Illinois with a 5-2 victory over the Salukis in Omaha, Neb., Friday afternoon. The top-seeded Redbirds improved to 33-16 on the year with the victory and will play second-seeded Evansville at 6 p.m. Friday evening, with the winner advancing to the MVC championship game.
The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning after Shae Wesley was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. An error on a Bridget Fournie sacrifice attempt on the next at bat put runners on first and second with no outs for Becky McMurtry who doubled to left field to plate Wesley and advance Fournie to third. April Schermann drove in Fournie with a sacrifice fly and an infield single by Jamie Bagnall scored McMurtry to give Illinois State a 3-0 lead after the first.
McMurtry sparked the Redbirds in the third inning, belting her second double of the day and third of the tournament down the right field line to lead off the frame. After advancing to third on a groundout, McMurtry scored on a wild pitch by Southern Illinois hurler Erin Stremsterfer.
Southern Illinois scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on solo home runs by Stremsterfer and Elissa Hopkins to cut the Redbird lead to 4-2.
"I was pleased we were able to jump on (Katie) Kloess (SIUs starting pitcher) early," head coach
Melinda Fischer said. "Last time we faced her we didnt do well, shes a tough pitcher and it was key that we were able to make them battle back instead of trying to dig out of a hole."
Illinois State got one run back in the fifth, however. Fournie legged out an infield single and advanced to second on a McMurtry sacrifice bunt. McMurtry reached base on the play on a throwing error by Stremsterfer. Fournie then scored when she slid around the tag of catcher Karrie Fortman after SIUs second baseman Tahira Saafir threw home on a fielders choice to give the Redbirds a 5-2 lead.
Senior pitcher Nicole Kurth didnt need any insurance runs as she managed to hold the Salukis and improved to 22-4 on the year. Kurth is now 6-0 in her two-year ISU career in MVC Tournament action, after striking out 11 batters and walking none in the victory.
