Illinois State fell behind early in the opener but roared back and never looked back from there The Birds used timely hitting and took advantage of six Purple Aces errors to take two games from Evansville 7-4 and 6-0 at Redbird Softball Complex Saturday.
Evansvilles bats were hot from the start. Leadoff Emily Winter singled through the right side to get things started. The ensuing batter sacrificed her to second before center fielder Ashley Werner doubled to right center for the games first RBI. After ISU starter Stacy Birk struck out the next batter, designated player Kim Nichols singled to right field and Werner crossed the plate on an errant throw home.
The Redbirds rallied in the bottom of the inning with one out. Emily Krueger reached base after being hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Kate Stake double to right center. After Dominique Borba walked to load the bases, Katie Guilbault came up with a crucial RBI single, deep in the pocket between third base and shortstop. Evansvilles shortstop fielded the ball cleanly, but each of the runners had already advanced safely. With the bases still loaded, Lauren Bierwirth was walked tying the score at 2-2.
Illinois State scored another run in the fourth with Krueger getting things started again. After receiving a base on balls, Aundrea Parsons came on to pinch run for Krueger. Stake bunted Parsons over to second for the first out of the frame. After Borba popped out, Guilbault came up with another big hit. Her line drive through the left side was enough for Parsons to cross the plate safely and hand the Redbirds their first lead of the contest.
The Purple Aces battled back with a run of their own in the fifth. Birk gave up a leadoff walk to third baseman Jennifer Mann before forcing the next two batters to fly out to center field. Mann moved to second on a wild pitch, before Werner plated her with a line drive to center field.
ISU scored two more runs in the fifth before forcing Aces hurler Katie Markle from the game. The rally began with a one- out double to right field by left fielder Randi Patton. She advanced to third after the next batter grounded out to first. Then Mandy Garner was hit by a pitch putting runners on the corners with two outs. Krueger then sliced the ball down the left field line, scoring Patton and moving Garner to second. Kate Stake followed with a single to left and moved to second on the throw home to get Garner, who was ruled safe on the play. Krueger advanced to third on the play. Markle then gave way to fellow junior pitcher Casey Clutch. Clutch didnt get much support from her fielders as Borba, the first batter she faced, reach on an error by the shortstop while Krueger and Stake both crossed the plate.
Evansville tacked on one more run in the seventh on a Werner RBI double before the Redbirds claimed the win. Markle (17-9) took the loss for the Purple Aces after giving up five earned runs and striking out eight. Birk (19-6) picked up the complete game win for ISU.
Stake, 3-for-3, and Guilbault, 2-for-4 with two RBI, led the Redbird offense, while Werner was 3-for-3 with all three RBI for the Aces.
In game two, freshman pitcher Shannon Nicholson (10-6) tossed a three-hit shutout. The three hits ties the fewest hits the Chatham Glenwood product has allowed in a decision this season. The right-hander gave up hits in the second, sixth and seventh innings, while striking out three and walking just two.
Birk, serving as a designated player in game two, kick-started the Redbird offense with a solo home run down the right field line off Clutch in the top of the fourth inning. Her fourth homer of the season gave the Birds a lead that they would never relinquish.
ISU then caught fire in the sixth. Borba received a base on balls with one out. Birk then reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second, while Borba went to third. Bierwirth then laid down the perfect bunt for the squeeze. By the time Clutch picked the ball up, Borba had already scored and Birk was at third. So she threw to second base to catch Bierwirth, but the ball sailed into the outfield and Bierwirth advanced to third while Birk scored. Patton then drove a shot through the right side to push Beirwirth across.
Illinois States final two runs came on back-to-back solo home runs by Garner and Krueger in the seventh frame.
Patton and Tricia Gaither were the only Redbirds with more than one hit in the second contest.
The Birds will wrap up the regular season with a noon game tomorrow against Evansville. Illinois State seniors Katie Hanko and Emily Krueger along with the seniors from Evansville will be honored prior to the game.
