It was a rainy day in Omaha, Nebraska as the Illinois State softball team dropped the first game of the Saturdays doubleheader to Creighton, 1-0. Due to rain and poor field conditions, the doubleheader scheduled for today was reduced to a single game, and the series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.
The Jays took the early lead at 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer by leadoff hitter Lauren Flores, deep over the left field fence. The game was delayed for 50 minutes in the top of the second inning due to rain.
In the fifth inning, Illinois State was in scoring position and it looked like the Redbirds might tie it up with Kate Stake on third and Randi Patton on second, but Tricia Gaither struck out to retire the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Birds made it a quick inning by retiring the Jays, three-up-three-down. Senior Katie Shifflet pinch-hit for Corey Harris to lead off the Redbirds in the top of the seventh with a base hit to deep right center field. Dominque Borba was hit by a pitch and advanced Mandy Garner, who came in to pinch-run for Shifflet, to second base. Lauren Bierwirth flew out foul. Patton struck out to finish the inning, as the Redbirds fell to Creighton, 1-0.
Redbird pitcher Audra Rast picked up her first loss in the Valley, as her overall record fell to 14-9. She hurled 10 strikeouts, and gave up one run on three hits.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was disappointed with the outcome of the game, but looks to regroup for Sundays doubleheader.
It was a pitchers game with Audra having 10 strikeouts and Tammy Nielson (of Creighton) having 11, said Fischer. I think Audra pitched well, but we have to score to win. We had the opportunity in the sixth inning, but we needed the timely hit and we didnt get it.
Tomorrow we need more discipline at the plate and we need to jump on pitches that we can hit, added Fischer.
The Redbirds fall to 14-3 in the Valley and 23-18 overall.
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