Despite three Redbird home runs in game one, Illinois State (9-8) couldnt pull off the upset against the Fighting Illini and fell, 6-5. But in the nightcap, Stacy Birks three-run bomb to right field helped the Birds to a 3-0 win. The victory marks the first time in four tries that ISU has defeated the Illini. It is also the first time that a Valley school has beaten the Illinois.
Emily Kruegers hit to right center in the top of the first inning helped her extend her hitting streak to five games. But the Birds couldnt move the runners around the bases leaving a runner stranded on the bases.
It was a different story for the Illini in the bottom of the first. The Redbirds managed to get the first two outs rather easily but two walks and a single later the bases were loaded. Starter Sheila Emms then walked the next batter, putting Illinois up 1-0. Emms forced the next batter to groundout to second base to complete the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Randi Patton started off a slap bunt between third and short and got on base due to an error by the shortstop. Then Tricia Gaither reached on a fielders choice while Patton was forced out at second. Krueger then smacked a shot over the left field fence to give Illinois State a 2-1 lead.
But the lead was a brief one as Illinois came back and scored five runs in the bottom of the third to go up by four entering the top of the fourth. A two-run homer to left by Erin Montgomery, the second batter of the inning, gave the Fighting Illini their lead back at 3-2. They batted all the way through the order and tacked on three additional runs off three hits and two Redbirds errors.
Krueger homered again in the top of the fifth, only this time she went to right field. She also drove in Randi Patton who had doubled to left field two batters before. Dominique Borba followed with a bloop single to right field, but the next batter popped out to end the stanza with ISU still trailing 6-4.
Patton then led off the top of the seventh with a shot to dead center that was over the wall just enough for a solo homer. Her first home run of the year inched the Birds a little closer at 6-5, but they couldnt put the tying run over the plate.
Krueger led the Birds with three hits (two homers and a single) in her four at bats and four RBI. Patton was two for three with a double and a home run. Lindsey Hamma was the only Illinois player with two hits.
Sheila Emms took the loss for ISU and falls to 2-4. She allowed five hits, six runs and three walks. In relief, freshman Stacy Birk allowed two hits, five walks and tossed three strikeouts. Illinois Amanda Fortune picked up the win, allowing six hits, five runs, one walk and threw six strikeouts. Sherri Taylor picked up the save for the Illini. In an inning of work, she allowed no hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Stacy Birks three run shot to right in the top of the second put Illinois State up early, 3-0, and gave them a lead they would never relinquish. Birks first collegiate home run drove in Lauren Bierwirth who had singled and Mandy Garner who reached on a walk.
The Birds worked themselves into a scary situation in the bottom of the seventh as two runners reached base with two outs. But Nicholson struck out the next batter to end the game with the Birds up by three.
Shannon Nicholson (4-2) picked up the shutout for ISU, her third of the season. She allowed just four hits, one walk and had three strikeouts. Birk led the Redbird offense with two hits. Katie Guilbault and Lauren Bierwirth had one hit apiece.
Illinois pitcher Sherri Taylor picked up the loss. She allowed four hits, three runs and two walks while tossing nine strikeouts.
Illinois State will take on Tennessee Tech at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Southern Illinois Saluki Round Robin. DePaul, Kansas and Southern Illinois round out the tournament field.
