The Illinois State softball team opened their 2003 season with a record of 1-1, after the first day of competition at the Fun and Sun Classic in Miami, Fla. The Redbirds began the tournament with an 8-1 victory over Kentucky, but dropped their second game to tournament host Florida International, 4-1.
The Redbirds opened the first inning against Kentucky with five runs. Newcomer Tricia Gaither scored the first run. Senior Melissa Baker hit a sacrifice fly to bring home freshman Randi Patton. Serena Cruz, a sophomore, later hit a double and advanced to third on a throw, bringing home seniors Abbie Scott, Katie Shifflet and Corey Harris.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was pleased with the Redbirds first victory of the season.
We came out strong from the start, said Fischer. I think we capitalized on the plays we created, as well as Kentuckys miscues.
Serena (Cruz) had a really big hit for us, and Tricia (Gaither) did a great job in her first collegiate game by leading us off in the first inning with a base hit. She set the tone for the rest of the game.
Kate Stake scored the Redbirds sixth run after hitting a triple to right center and was brought home by a Baker double.
The Wildcats scored their first and only run in the bottom of the fourth off a Redbird error.
In the final inning of the game, Emily Krueger, a junior college transfer, entered the game as a pinch hitter for Shifflet and doubled, bringing home Harris and Baker. From the circle, Harris sealed her first win of the season, by closing the game with two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.
In Illinois States second game of the day, the Redbirds fell behind, 3-0 in the second inning as FIU scored its first run off a walked batter. The Panthers then scored two more times, leaving one batter on base.
Senior Audra Rast had trouble from the circle as she recorded five hits and three runs, before freshman Sheila Emms replaced her in the seventh inning. The Panthers had three hits and one run on Emms.
The Redbirds scored their only run of the game in the seventh inning when Krueger doubled to right center, allowing Scott to score.
Although Fischer was satisfied with a split on opening day, she was not satisfied with the Redbirds offense.
We had way too many strikeouts, said Fischer. We could never really generate anything offensively. We did learn a lot about ourselves today, and we look forward to going out there and playing again tomorrow.
The Redbirds return to action on Saturday as they take on No. 17 Georgia at 11 a.m.
