Katie Guilbaults grand slam in the top of the sixth inning helped Illinois State defeat the Early Birds, a team comprised of former ISU softball players, 6-4 in the final game of Sundays softball tournament at Redbird Softball Complex.
Head coach
Melinda Fischer was pleased with her teams effort, especially in the final game.
I was very pleased with our team. It was great to have an opportunity to play against the type of talent that we played against in that last ball game, Fischer said. We had five all-Americans out on the field and I think for our players, both the veterans and our new players, to play against that and to see the love for the game that they have, to see their abilities; I thought that was an awesome experience.
Illinois State took the field at noon for the first game of the day against Lincoln College of Lincoln, Ill. For the first few innings it was three up three down for both teams until the Redbird bats got hot in the fourth inning. Guilbault came out hitting in the first game of the day, smacking a double and earning three RBI. Freshman catcher Stephanie Darin was also hot, coming off the bench to go 2-2 and earn four RBI. Tricia Gaither was 3-4 in the contest and Lauren Bierwirth was 2-3. The Birds defeated Lincoln College 10-0.
In the second game, Lincoln College faced the Early Birds and fell 10-0.
Then the Early Birds played host to the current Illinois State team. It was a back and forth game with ISU getting things going in the top of the first inning on a Tricia Gaither lead off double. Senior Emily Krueger brought Gaither home later in the first on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Birds a 1-0 lead. But the Early Birds fought back and tied up the score in the bottom of the inning.
Illinois State earned another run in the top of the second when Bierwirth, who had reached on an error, stole home. This gave the Birds a 2-1 lead. Defense was the key in the next few innings as neither team allowed a run until the Early Birds scored in the bottom of the fifth. The ISU alums recorded three runs on five hits, putting themselves up 4-2.
But the Redbirds werent done yet. In the top of the sixth, Kate Stake reached on a fielders choice. Then Dominique Borba and Lauren Bierwirth both walked loading the bases. Katie Guilbault got
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the call and got it done as she pounded a grand slam over the fence in left center. Guilbaults grand slam put the Birds up for good as neither the Early Birds nor the Redbirds scored again in the contest.
Fischer said she felt that games like the one with the Early Birds will help her team prepare for conference competition. The meeting with the Early Birds was their third meeting in two days. They had faced each other twice the day before in a scrimmage.
I felt when I was out there that it really felt like an Missouri Valley Conference championship atmosphere, Fischer added. This is how we play the conference series...two games on Saturday and a game on Sunday. I truly thought it was a championship atmosphere.
Fischer only had good things to say about her former players, the Early Birds.
When you look at these signs on the field, these players are the heart and soul of all these championships, Fischer said refering to the conference championship signs in the outfield. These are the players that have really taken our program to another level. I thought they did an awesome job. I think they competed hard and I think they enjoyed it too.
