Oct. 1, 2005
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State got off to a sluggish start at the Fall Classic, but the `Birds managed to pull out a 2-1 win over Bradley and downed Lake Land College 9-0 in the nightcap.
Illinois State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Tricia Gaither reached on a leadoff walk and Tiffany Prager moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Then senior Randi Patton, in her first game this fall, smacked a triple off the wall in centerfield to plate the Redbirds' first run.
However, the `Birds looked a little shaky defensively after the first frame, and it paid off for the Braves. In the top of the fourth, Holly Rogers reached on a two-out walk, and moved to second on a single up the middle by Christine Cooney. Then Bradley tied it up at 1-1 as Rogers scored when the throw to first on a fielder's choice was dropped.
Casey Gorrell, representing the winning run, started the Redbird rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and moved to third on a two-out single through the left side by Gaither. It appeared as if the game was headed for extra innings when Prager's grounder went right to the shortstop, but the throw sailed over the first baseman's head to give the `Birds a 2-1 victory.
Shannon Nicholson picked up the win in relief. She held the Braves hitless while striking out four in two and two-thirds innings. Starter Stacy Birk surrendered four hits and four walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings. Six different players recorded hits for the Redbirds.
"I though we played tight in the first game, and I'm not sure why," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "But we were able to settle down and play our game, especially in game two.
"Shannon really did a great job coming in in relief," Fischer added. "That was critical because Stacy (Birk) was struggling.
"Randi had the best at bat against Bradley. She took a 3-0 pitch and drove it for a triple, and on defense her arm prevented Bradley from scoring a couple times," Fischer said. "It was good to have both her and Jackie back out there. We need to get them some work out there together. Both of them are playing new positions, although they've played in all fields in practice."
Another freshman started the rally in game two against Lake Land College. Jessie Buker drove a double into the gap in right center for the Redbirds' first hit of the game. Katie Guibault followed with a walk and Kaprice Williams reached when the shortstop threw the ball over the first baseman's head, plating the first run of the game.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Jackie Williams hit a two-RBI single into shallow left center to make in 3-0. Williams advanced to third on the error, but was picked off one play later on Gaither's fielder's choice. However, Gaither was able to come around and score on a dropped fly ball in left field.
Illinois State added three more runs in the top of the third. Birk led off with a single through the right side and Buker added another
double, plating pinch runner Jessica Wapotish. The `Birds then tacked on a pair of runs on a throwing error to make it 7-0. ISU also plated two in the sixth on a RBI double by Patton and a dropped fly ball in the outfield for the final score.
Buker and Jackie Williams each had two hits to lead the ISU offense in game two. Nicholson picked up her second win of the day, surrendering just one hit and striking out two in three frames. Amber Smith tossed three innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out six.
"Shannon played huge for us today and I thought Amber pitched pretty well too. She was more focused than I've seen her in a while" Fischer said. "Jessie played consistent all day at three positions (right field, catcher and second base). She's still learning behind the plate, and that's a tough position to learn. But I thought she and Shannon worked well together."
Tomorrow the `Birds return to the field for Alumni Day at 1 p.m.
