The Illinois State softball team improved their record to 17-11, 11-1 in conference action today, defeating Drake 11-1 in six innings at the Redbird Softball Complex.
As of late, the Redbirds have been on a roll, winning five straight in conference play, including their three-game sweep over the Bulldogs this weekend, 8-0 (5), 10-2 (6), 11-1 (6). The Birds have yet to lose on their home turf behind pitchers Audra Rast, who earned the win for Illinois State today, and Corey Harris (4-7) who took the win for the Birds win over the Bulldogs yesterday, 10-2.
Audra did really well for us today, said Fischer. She had a good weekend and I think she threw harder than she has for a while.
Indeed she did. The Bulldogs, who were at the top of the conference in team hitting, had a hard time at the plate. The junior right-hander hurled a two hitter today, after throwing only a one-hitter yesterday, and tied her previous strikeout record with 11 in a single-game, improving her record to 13-2 overall, respectively.
Offensively the Redbirds stroked 13 hits off of Drake pitchers Katie Shimon and Molly Henry tallying 11 RBI. Leading the Birds at the plate was Jamie Bagnall who ripped a three-run homer, her second of the year, to end the game in the six innings. Bagnall went 2 for 3 and had four RBI against the Bulldogs and looks forward to playing agaist DePaul this week.
It felt so good hitting the ball, said Bagnall after sitting out for two weeks due to a shoulder injury. Im really excited to play DePaul because its always a good game for us.
Also earning respectable marks were freshmen Kate Stake and Dominique Borba, who hit their fifth and sixth doubles of the year. Abbie Scott, who leads the Birds in doubles, stroked her eighth while Corey Harris and Lauren Bierwirth each hit their third.
On Tuesday, April 9, the Birds face-off with No.16 DePaul who currently hold a 19-6 record. After this weekends games, Fischer said she knows the upcoming competition against the Blue Demons will be different for the Redbird squad.
We want to stay very focused on what we need to do, said Fischer. I thought we did a good job of it this weekend, but DePaul will be entirely different for us. Its an out of conference game and we need to take a little different look at what we need to do come Tuesday.
The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled to cross the plate at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Redbird Softball Complex.
