Game three in Missouri Valley Conference play hasnt treated the Redbirds kindly the past three weekends. Sunday was no different as the Birds got just four hits, three in the final inning, in a 5-0 loss to SMS. Illinois State has recorded a total of five hits in their last three series finales.
SMS (13-17, 8-7) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out, Katie Martin doubled to the gap in left center and moved to third on a groundout. Starting pitcher Shannon Buslepp singled to left field just over the outstretched glove of shortstop Dominique Borba to drive in the Bears first run. Then April Johnson drove the ball into right field and Mandy Garner tried to make the diving catch but the ball got past her for a RBI triple to give SMS its second run.
In the fifth the Bears got a leadoff bloop single to left field from Amber Robins, sending ISU starter Shannon Nicholson to the dugout. Nicholson gave way to Stacy Birk. Sara Cole, the first batter Birk faced, reached on a Redbird error. Martin then hit a slow roller back to Birk for a single to load the bases.
Michelle Armentrout then hit a RBI single through the right side to add the SMS lead. Buslepp drove in the fourth run of the game on a fielders choice to the right side as Kate Stakes throw to the plate to get the lead runner was late. Birk struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning with the bases loaded.
The Birds (21-13, 5-8) didnt have a base runner until the sixth inning when Katie Guilbault drove a double into left center with two outs. But the runner was left stranded as Buslepp managed to retire the side with a strikeout to get out of the inning unscathed.
Armentrout jump-started the SMS offense again in the seventh with a leadoff double to right center. Buslepp followed with a single up the middle, putting runners on the corners. Johnson sliced one through the right side for a RBI single to give the Bears a 5-0 lead. After Sheila Emms came on to pitch, the ensuing batters each reached on fielders choices as ISU got two consecutive force-outs at third. Charity Head then singled to Emms to load the bases, but Emms got out of the frame with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Randi Patton singled to the shortstop. She tried to catch SMS sleeping on the play as she attempted to steal second but was thrown out. The base running error proved costly as Illinois State then got back-to-back hits by Garner and pinch hitter Tiffany Prager. Pinch runner Jackie Williams advanced to third on a wild pitch, but it didnt matter as the game ended with a strikeout and runners on the corners.
Nicholson (11-9) took the loss for the Birds, striking out one and walking two while giving up five hits and three runs. Birk surrendered five hits and two runs in two innings while striking out three and walking one. Emms allowed just one hit and struck out one in her lone inning. Buslepp (7-8) picked up the win for the Bears. She struck out ten and walked none while allowing four hits. She had a perfect game going until the sixth.
Again the Redbirds four hits came from four different players, three in the final frame. Meanwhile, SMS pounded out 11 hits with four different players knocking out two hits apiece. Buslepp and Johnson each had two RBI.
