Sophomore Lauren Bierwirth went 5-for-5 and drove in two runs to help lead the Illinois State softball team to two victories, Saturday, against the Evansville Purple Aces, 5-3 in game one and 5-2 in game two.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was more than pleased with the two victories in this heated match-up between the No. 1 (ISU) and No. 2 (UE) Valley preseason picks.
We came out excited and ready to play, said Fischer. It was two solid games. We were first on the scoreboard in both games, and I think the first game opened with a lot of emotion from last year (when Evansville beat Illinois State in the Valley championship game).
In the first game of the match-up between the Redbirds and Purple Aces, Illinois State took the lead in the third inning, as Bierwirth reached first base on a walk. Randi Patton was also walked and Bierwirth advanced to second. Tricia Gaither reached first on an Aces error and advanced Bierwirth and Patton respectively. Senior Abbie Scott singled to center field, and advanced to third on a two base error by the Aces center fielder, to bring home Bierwirth, Patton and Gaither. Dominique Borba popped up to second. Melissa Baker hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Scott for the 4-0 lead over Evansville.
The Purple Aces scored one run in the bottom of the third inning off a Redbird error, but the Redbirds answered that run with their own in the top fourth. Kate Stake led off with a double to left center field. Katie Shifflet advanced Stake to third on a sacrifice bunt. Bierwirth followed with a single to right center, driving home Stake. Evansville shut down the Birds with two outs to end the inning.
The Redbirds failed to score again, but held the 5-1 lead until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Aces scored two more runs. However, it was not enough as Illinois State claimed the 5-3 victory. Redbird pitcher Audra Rast improved her record to 6-7 by hurling seven strikeouts and allowing three runs on five hits.
Lauren had a great day at the plate and made some great catches in center field, said Fischer. Kate (Stake) and Emily (Krueger) both had some big hits for us. I also think Abbie (Scott) played well and made some key plays for us defensively.
In the second game of the series, Emily Krueger led the Redbirds by going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. Illinois State was first on the scoreboard again, when Krueger stepped up to the plate in the second inning with one out. She hit a double to right center field, and Stake followed with a single up the middle. Katie Shifflet grounded out to second base, but advanced Krueger and Stake. Bierwirth then hit a single to drive home Krueger before the inning ended as Stake was out at home plate.
Krueger put Illinois State on the board again in the fourth inning as she hit a solo homer to put the Redbirds up, 2-0. At the top of the fifth inning, Evansville got on the board for the first time in the game with one run.
The Redbirds sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth as Shifflet hit a single down the left field line, and was replaced by pinch runner Carly Weinstein. Bierwirth hit a single and advanced Weinstein to second. Patton hit a single to center field and advanced to second on the throw to bring home Weinstein and advance Bierwirth to third. Gaither reached first on a walk, and Scott hit a single to center field to drive in Bierwirth and Patton.
The Purple Aces came back in the seventh with a solo homer by pitcher Casey Clutch, but it was not enough, as Illinois State claimed the 5-2 victory. Redbird pitcher Corey Harris picked up her sixth win of the season.
We must build off of today to be ready for tomorrow, added Fischer.
Illinois State is undefeated in the Valley with five wins, and improved its overall record to 12-12 with todays sweep. Evansville falls to 2-3 in the Valley and is 13-8 overall.
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