Randi Patton of the Illinois State softball team hit two home runs in this Saturdays doubleheader against Southwest Missouri State to lead the Redbirds to two wins over the Bears -- 2-1 and 8-0 in five innings -- and claim the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.
Pitcher Audra Rast picked up two more wins and improved her record to 20-11. She hurled 18 strikeouts in two games and gave up only five hits and one run. With Rasts 18 strikeouts, she improves to 277 on the year and moves into the Valley record book for the third best single season strikeout mark. She beats out Beth Hawkins of Bradley from 1985, who had 275. She is only four shy of the number two mark at 281, made by Hawkins in 1986. The best mark in the Valley for strikeouts in a single season is 364, held by Erin Stremsterfer of SIU from 2001.
In game one, all three runs scored were home runs, and it was SMS that took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning by a Charity Head homer.
In the bottom of the third inning, Patton, a freshman, tied it up with a huge home run down the right field foul line, which was the first of her career. Dominique Borba picked up a home run of her own, her second of the season, to help the Redbirds take the lead at 2-1, and ultimately, claim the victory.
As the Redbirds picked up their first win of the day, Southern Illinois dropped a game to Wichita State, 1-0, allowing the Redbirds to go up a game and a half in the standings and claim the regular-season championship. The Salukis came back to claim a 3-1 win over WSU, but it is not enought to take the title from the Redbirds.
The Redbirds sealed their success by shutting out the Bears 8-0 in five innings in game two. Illinois State took the early lead in the first inning and never looked back as Tricia Gaither led off with a base hit. She was advanced to second on an Abbie Scott sacrifice bunt. Kate Stake hit a double to drive home Gaither for the 1-0 lead.
Illinois State picked up three more runs in the top of the second to increase the lead to 4-0, as Borba, Lauren Bierwirth and Patton crossed home plate.
It was a Patton repeat in the top of the third as she hit another homer down the right field foul line, this time driving in Corey Harris and Stake for the three-run homer. The Redbirds increased their lead to 7-0. The final run of the game was scored as Illinois State had the bases loaded in the top of the fourth and Harris was walked to bring home Scott. The Bears were unable to score in the fifth inning, thus the game was called by the eight-run rule.
Patton, a native of Golden, Colorado, was excited to pick up the first two home runs of her career. She went 3-for-4 on the day with two homers, one stolen base, three runs scored and three RBI.
It felt awesome, said Patton. It felt really good to start helping the team and be a part of claiming the regular-season championship. Our team has a lot of talent and I credit it (the championship) to a complete team effort.
Scott went 3-for-4 on the day including two doubles, one run and one RBI. Borba was 2-for-4 on the day with one home run, two runs and one RBI.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was more than pleased with the effort of her team.
Audra pitched well and she continues to amaze me with her talent and stamina, said Fischer. Randi had a great day and whatever she had for breakfast, we need to spread around for tomorrow.
I am so proud of this team, added Fischer. It is very exciting to see the team achieve a goal that they set in the preseason. We have pretty much been on top of the Valley all year, and that is not easy, but the team handled it very well.
Five Redbirds will play their final game at the Redbird Softball Complex tomorrow in a noon game against the Bears. Melissa Baker, Corey Harris, Audra Rast, Abbie Scott and Katie Shifflet will be honored for their dedication to the Illinois State softball program on Senior Day at the field, with ceremonies beginning just before the first pitch is thrown.
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