Kate Stake hit a solo homer in the top of the second inning to give the Illinois State softball team the lone run needed to sweep the Evansville Purple Aces this weekend at Cooper Stadium, in Evansville, Ind. Illinois State completed the weekend with a 1-0 shutout over Evansville.
It was a battle of the pitchers as Illinois States Audra Rast held Evansville to one hit in the fourth inning, and the Redbirds managed to hold the Purple Aces scoreless. Rast secured the Illinois State victory in the bottom of the seventh inning by hurling three strikeouts, totaling 11 for the day. Rasts one-hitter improved her record to 7-7.
Evansvilles pitcher, Katie Markle, recorded her sixth loss of the season, as she allowed only four Redbird hits, one to Stake for the homer, and the other three coming in the sixth and seventh innings.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was very excited for the Redbirds.
This was a huge weekend for us, said Fischer. It was our goal to sweep Evansville and we did exactly that. I am very proud of this team, and hopefully we will build upon this for the rest of the conference season.
Sophomore Lauren Bierwirth was 1-for-2 on the day and 6-for-7 on the weekend. Senior Katie Shifflet was 1-for-2, while Stake and Dominique Borba each went 1-for-3 in game three of the series.
The Redbirds remain undefeated in the Valley at 6-0, and improved their overall record to 13-12. They will return action at the Redbird Softball Complex in Normal on Tuesday to face Big Ten opponent, Northwestern.
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