Despite the change in the schedule due to excessive rain and poor field conditions, the Illinois State Redbird softball team opened the first day of the Louisville Slugger with a win over Iowa and a loss to tournament host No. 13 Arizona State. Illinois State improved its overall record to 3-4.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was pleased overall with the days performance, but also sees room for improvement.
Defensively we played well overall, said Fischer. I think we rushed a couple of plays that we could have executed better. Offensively we did better than in the last tournament, but we still need to focus on getting the timely hits.
The Redbirds opened the tournament with a 5-3 win over Big Ten foe, Iowa. Illinois State got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning as Tricia Gaither crossed home plate.
The Hawkeyes scored their first run in the top of the third with a homerun by Lisa Birocci. However, the Redbirds answered back by scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning. Gaither hit a single down the left field line and was advanced to second when Kate Stake reached first on an Iowa error. Melissa Baker hit a double to advance Stake and bring home Gaither. Corey Harris hit a double to advance Baker and bring home Stake. After Abbie Scott struck out swinging, Katie Shifflet reached first base on an error and advanced to second on a throw, and brought home both Harris and Baker.
Iowa followed Illinois State by answering with two runs off a runner who singled to center and was brought home by a homerun by Christina Schmaltz.
Redbird pitcher Audra Rast picked up her first win of the 2003 season. She allowed six hits, three runs and three walks. Rast hurled eleven strikeouts in seven innings.
In the second game of the day, Gaither led off the Redbirds by reaching first base on an Arizona State error and advanced to second. She then reached third on a pass ball and scored off a single by Dominique Borba. However, the Sundevils took the lead in the bottom of the first with two runs, making the score 2-1.
Arizona State increased its lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning with a double that brought home two runs, which would by enough to claim the victory over the Redbirds.
Harris dropped her second game of the season by giving up eight hits and four runs.
The Redbirds return to action tomorrow as they take on Utah State at 11:45 a.m., and will face Arizona State again at 7 p.m.
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