Two days after sophomore Randi Patton had the game-winning RBI against Wichita State, the left fielder from Golden, Colo., came up big again with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning Tuesday night to clinch a 5-4 Illinois State victory over Northern Illinois.
Leadoff hitter Mandy Garner got the offense going with a solo home run to center field in the Birds first at bat to put Illinois State up by one early. Emily Krueger followed with a double to right center, but was stranded on second as the next three batters went down in order.
Mandy (Garner) started us off great with her home run, but we had some opportunities to score today and we didnt have timely hitting, head coach
Melinda Fischer said. We played really well defensively. Dom (Borba) played great at short and Tricia (Gaither) made some nice plays at third. It was really good to see us stick it out and get the win.
Northern Illinois got on the board in the bottom of the second off a two-run homer to center by designated player Toni Del Toro. But it was the Redbirds who were the next to score. In the fifth inning Carly Weinstein reached on a two-out error by the second baseman. Then, pinch hitter Katie Guilbault walked, putting two runners on the base paths. Garner came up with her second hit of the day to score Weinstein and tie the score at 2-2. Emily Krueger then plated another run with a single to center field to put the Birds ahead by one.
The Huskies countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff walk, Shannon Nicholson entered to pitch and struck out the first batter, while the runner stole second base. She also struck out the ensuing batter, but gave up an RBI single to the next batter as NIU tied it up once again.
The Birds came up with another run in the sixth as Birk doubled down the right field line with one out. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on an error by the shortstop.
Northern Illinois showed some resilience again in the bottom of the seventh. Birk, who reentered to pitch at the start of the frame, forced the first batter to pop out to second base. Then, she gave up a walk and the runner advanced to second on a passed ball. Right fielder Therese Harper then drove a double into center field to tie up the score and force an extra inning, and thats when Patton had her decisive hit.
Birk ran her record to 17-4 in earning the win, and went two-for-four at the plate. Patton, Krueger and Garner each had two hits for the Redbirds. Garner had two RBI while Patton and Krueger each had one.
