Freshman RaeAnn Ewen looked impressive in her first appearance as a member of the Illinois State softball team, smacking a home run in each game to help lead the Birds to wins over Illinois Central College, Indiana State and Saint Xavier in the ISU Fall Tournament.
RaeAnn had a great day, Redbird head coach
Melinda Fischer said. She had good at bats and she had a good day catching for us. If she gets her timing down a little better, I really think she will be a great offensive threat.
The Birds kicked off the tournament with a 6-0 win over Illinois Central College. Senior Kate Stake drove in the first run with a single up the middle. Then it was Ewen who put the Birds up by three, sending the first pitch she faced over the wall in left center with two outs. Stake drove in the other three runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded she drove a pitch into left field, which was misfielded allowing all three runners to score.
In the second game, Illinois State squared off with Missouri Valley Conference foe, Indiana State. The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Senior Dominique Borba led off with a double to left and Ewen followed with a sac bunt, pushing Borba over to third. Borba then managed to score on a bloop infield single by Lauren Bierwirth.
The Sycamores tied it up in the top of the fourth on an unearned run, before Illinois State again took the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Ewen smacked her second homer of the day, giving the Birds a 2-1 edge. Indiana State evened the score again in the fifth before ISU took the lead for good in the sixth to earn the 3-2 win.
Illinois State faced Saint Xavier in the nightcap. Once again it was Ewen who came up huge in the first inning, giving the Redbirds a 3-0 lead with her third homer of the day. The Birds held Saint Xavier scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. The Cougars scored their only run on a pair of hits and a Redbird error. ISU added two more runs in the seventh to make the score 5-1.
Borba and Bierwirth each had four hits on the day, while Ewen and Stake each had three. Pitchers Sheila Emms, Shannon Nicholson and Stacy Birk each picked up wins for the Redbirds.
Fischer was happy that she had an opportunity to see her team in game situations.
This was a good way to start off the fall season, Fischer said. We saw a lot of positives, but we were also able to see many areas where we need improvement. Today we were able to see a lot from the returnees, rather than the new players. But that will change tomorrow since we are dividing up the team into two squads.
Sunday, the Birds will begin play at 10 a.m. as the Illinois State white team, comprised of returners, takes on St. Xavier. That game will be followed by a noon match-up between Illinois Central College and the Illinois State red team, which will be comprised of all the new players. The two losing teams will meet before the winners go head-to-head to wrap up the tournament at 4 p.m.
