Illinois State (22-14-1, 9-5) stunned Southern Illinois (30-9, 10-3) 6-1 on Saturday to earn the series win and hand head coach
Melinda Fischer her 600th victory at Illinois State in 19 seasons (600-424-3). The 'Birds used timely hitting and took advantage of key SIU errors to earn the "W". This weekend the Redbirds handed the Salukis their only two home losses of the season.
Fischer is only the second coach to achieve 600 wins at ISU. Baseball coach Duffy Bass was 706-446-19 in 24 years.
"I don't really pay attention to those things," Fischer said of achieving the 600 win mark. "It is really a reflection of all the people we've had in out program."
ISU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second off back-to-back singles by Dominique BOrba and Katie Guilbault.
With runners on first and second, Lauren Bierwirth sacrificed the runners a base with a bunt. Randi Patton then loaded the base when she hit the ball back to starting pitcher Amy Harre, who bobbled the ball and threw to first but Katie Louis dropped the ball. The Stacy Birk hit a little dribbler down the first base line and Harre charged it and bobbled it again and Birk managed to get on as Borba crossed the plate for the first run of the contest.
The Redbirds scored again in the following inning as Emily Krueger got on after being hit by a pitch. Freshman Ashley Patterson came on to run for Krueger and moved to second on a sac bunt by Kate Stake. After Borba popped out to short, Guilbault reached on an error by Harre to put runners on first and second. Lauren Bierwirth then laced a shot down the left field line for a double to score Patterson from second.
Illinois State took advantage of Saluki errors in the fourth to score two runs. With two outs Garner smacked a double to left center to get the bats going for the Redbirds. Then Emily Krueger drove the ball up the middle and shortstop Jen Doehring looked to have a sure out but the ball was misplayed and Garner scored, while Krueger advanced to second on the throw home. After a walk by Stake, Harre was pulled from the game and Cassidy Scoggins came in as relief. Borba
singled to the left side to load the bases for Guilbault. The desingated player smacked a line drive to third base but again the ball was mishandled and Krueger was able to score.
Southern Illinois earned their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Doehring led off with a double to left center to start the shortlived rally. After the next batter flew out to center field, Haley Viefhaus hit the ball to center and Doehring was able to score.
With one out and one on in the fifth, Carly Weinstein hit a high fly ball over the scoreboard in right field for her first home run of the season to put two more on the board for Illinois State. It was just the second homer of her career.
"I thought we played very well this weekend, especially today," Fischer said. "Our bats were working really well for us and we had soe key hits in key situations that helped us get this game. Stacy (Birk) pitched a really good ball game.
Birk (11-4) pitched a complete game four-hitter to earn the win. She walked just one batter while striking out three. Borba and Guilbault both went two-for-four for the Redbirds.
ISU will be in action again on Tuesday at Redbird Softball Complex against Western Illinois at 5 p.m.
