Dominique Borbas eighth inning drive into centerfield helped the Illinois State softball team open its season with a 3-2 win over Auburn at the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic in Miami Friday. The win avenged the Redbirds 2004 season opening 1-0 loss to the Tigers.
Doms hit was big, Fischer said. She had a little trouble with their pitcher early on but she made the adjustment.
The final inning started with Tricia Gaither being placed on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. After Kate Stake fouled out to the catcher while trying to lay down a bunt, Borba game up with her game-winning hit. Despite the score, ISU didnt get its first hit until the bottom of the seventh when Randi Patton singled to second base. The hit extended Pattons hitting streak, which dates back to last season, to seven games. Borba had the only other Redbird hit.
After we didnt get that bunt down, I knew we really needed a base hit, Borba said of her late-game heroics. I wasnt going down without making contact and getting a hit.
After two scoreless innings, the Redbirds broke through with two runs in the bottom of the third. Leadoff Mandy Garner worked the count to 3-2 before receiving a free trip to first base. The next batter struck out, but Garner managed to swipe second base in the process to put a Redbird in scoring position. Stake then hit a sharp grounder to third base, which was fielded cleanly. However, on the throw the first baseman drifted into the baseline, knocking Stake over yet failing to catch the ball. Garner scored on the play while Stake advanced to second. Then with two outs Stake crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Auburn rallied in the fourth tying the score at 2-2. Pitcher Holly Currie started the rally by driving a pitch over the fence in centerfield for the Tigers first run. With two out and two on, first baseman Anne Norton doubled down the left field line plating the second run.
The Tigers threatened again in the seventh after Norton doubled for the second time with just one out. After an intentional walk with two outs to get to Lauren Walton, who had struck out in her first three at bats, the Redbirds held Auburn at bay by forcing a groundout to end the inning.
Stacy Birk (1-0) earned the win, tossing eight strikeouts while walking just one and allowing two earned runs on five hits. Currie picked up the loss for the Tigers.
It was kind of a strange game, we had six strikeouts and six walks, Fischer said. At times I thought we made good decisions, and at other times I thought we were way out of the zone. We put ourselves in a position to score early but we played a little tense at times. Later in the game we did have some better at bats and we pulled it out, which is a good sign.
Illinois State plays tournament host Florida International later this evening. All tournament games have been delayed to inclement weather prior to the first game of the day.
Live stats of Diamond Fun and Sun Classic games are available online through the Illinois State softball schedule at www.redbirds.org.
