Following a couple great performances in the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic last weekend, Illinois State softball players Shannon Nicholson and Lauren Bierwirth were named Missouri Valley Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively.
This is a great honor for both of these players, head coach
Melinda Fischer said. Lauren had consistent at bats and some clutch hits in the second game against Kentucky. She played great defense. Lauren had a few routine plays, but she also made some great catches that prevented runners from advancing and scoring.
Bierwirth, ISUs centerfielder who batted .438, led the team in hitting as the Redbirds compiled a 3-2 record to start the season. She was 7-for-16 with a stolen base and a run scored. The senior captain was just one of two Redbirds with a hit against Florida International, going two-for-three in the loss. Bierwirth, who earned preseason All-Valley honorable mention plaudits last week, followed up that performance with a three-for-three effort against #21 South Florida the next day. Sunday in the Birds 11-inning win over Kentucky, the Mundelein, Ill., native was two-for-five with an RBI double that helped ISU match UKs four runs in the bottom of the 11th.
Nicholson was named to the all-tournament team after posting a 2-2 record with a 1.09 ERA and 18 strikeouts in four appearances. The sophomore hurler opened the season by striking out eight Florida International batters, one shy of her career high. The following day she pitched four and two-thirds innings of relief against Kentucky allowing just one hit, while holding the Wildcats scoreless. A day later, Nicholson tossed nine and two-thirds innings of relief in an 11-inning nail-biter against Kentucky. In earning the win, the Chatham, Ill., native struck out four, walked two and allowed just two runs, neither of which was earned, on four hits.
Shannon had an all-around awesome tournament, Fischer said. She really battled out there and she fielded well too. She was just on top of her game.
In the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic the Redbirds opened their season with a 3-2 eight-inning win over Auburn, followed by a 6-0 loss to tournament host Florida International. The following day ISU downed Kentucky, 4-2, before falling to #21 South Florida, 4-1. The Birds wrapped up the tournament with an 11-inning 5-4 squeaker over Kentucky. Illinois State was set to take on #1 seed Auburn, whose only loss in the first two days was to ISU, but the Redbirds were unable to finish the tournament when they had to catch a flight to Normal in order to get back for classes Monday.
The Redbirds travel to Oxford, Miss. Friday for the Ole Miss Rebel Classic. The field includes tournament host Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Tennessee-Martin and Louisiana-Monroe.
