The Redbird softball team completed another strong day on the field as the Illinois State White won their two games and the Illinois State Red, which was predominantly freshmen, tied Illinois Central College (ICC), but fell to the White Team 9-5 in an intrasquad match, rounding out the Illinois State Fall Softball Tournament on Sunday.
In the first game of the day, the Birds got some sweet revenge as Illinois State Red defeated St. Xavier 7-0. St. Xavier had beaten Illinois State 6-5 on a walk-off home run the night before.
We came out really strong again and I was pleased with that because we could have been flat based on how we ended the game last night, head coach
Melinda Fischer said of the first game. I was real proud of them for doing that and for scoring on them early.
Illinois State Red faced ICC in the second match and came away with a scoreless tie.
In the ICC game we gave our freshmen an opportunity to get out on the field, Fischer said. I wasnt sure they were ready but they handled themselves really well. We had some trouble getting our offense going, but we were able to contain them, so that was good. Randi (Patton) had a great play in that game, throwing a kid out at the plate from centerfield. We really mixed it up in that game. We supplemented with sophomore and juniors. We played them in positions that they dont normally play.
The Birds rounded out the action with an intrasquad scrimmage, which the White won 9-5.
Its interesting because I think when you play against your own team it brings out the best and brings out the stuff you need to work on most, Fischer said of the scrimmage. The Red team needs some work, but were pretty pleased with where we are right now. We asked them to play hard, we asked them to play with heart and we asked them to give us everything they had, and they did that.
Next up for the Redbirds is the Chicagoland Fall Classic on Sunday, September 14.
