After leading her team to three victories at the Worth Invitational, Illinois State centerfielder Lauren Bierwirth was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Monday. Bierwirth also received this honor on Feb. 7, for the first week of the season.
Bierwirths timely hits helped the Redbirds, 10-4 overall, to a 3-1 record last weekend in Fullerton, Calif., including two victories over top 25 teams. The senior tri-captain had a bases loaded double with one out in the bottom of the seventh for ISUs only runs in a win over No. 25 Northwestern. The next day against Boston College, she got the Redbird offense rolling with a two-run homer in the fourth to put Illinois State ahead to stay.
Against Cal State-Fullerton, Bierwirth was one of just three Birds with a hit, going one-for-two in the loss. The Mundelein, Ill., native then had a two-RBI single against No. 24 Pacific to give ISU the lead for good in the sixth inning. In the tournament, Bierwirth, who had a tournament high six RBI, batted .400 with a double and a home run.
Lauren just had a great weekend, Illinois State head coach
Melinda Fischer said. Shes been playing very consistently and thats indicative of the kind of person she is. Lauren is a leader and shes put a lot of her life into the sport and into this program, and were seeing consistency as a result of that.
Her clutch hitting last weekend was huge, Fischer said. Thats an area where weve been lacking and Lauren really picked us up. Her last at bat against Northwestern was critical. She really hung in there, fouling off a bunch of pitches before coming up with her big hit.
Bierwirth is batting .316 and has a pair of doubles and a home run to her credit. She has also compiled seven RBI, three stolen bases and five sacrifice hits. Bierwirth has started 170 straight games, every game of her career as a Redbird.
ISU defeated No. 25 Northwestern, 2-1, in the Worth Invitational opener. The Birds then beat Boston College, 8-1, before losing to tournament host Cal State-Fullerton, 7-3. Illinois State came back to down No. 24 Pacific, 4-2, in its final game of the tournament. Only No. 18 Oregon State had a better finish in the tournament (4-0). The Redbirds were slated to play the Beavers in the tournament but the game was cancelled Friday due to inclement weather.
Illinois State travels to Bowling Green, Ky. this weekend for the Hilltopper Classic March 12-13 hosted by Western Kentucky. Belmont and Wright State round out the tournament field.
