Illinois State left 12 runners on base in a pair of losses to SMS Saturday at Redbird Softball Complex. The Birds dropped game one, 3-0, before coming up short in the second game, 2-1. ISU, which is currently on a five-game losing skid, will look to recover for game three at noon tomorrow.
Our players know that the coaching staff is behind them and we support them, Fischer said of her teams offensive struggles. They need to make up their minds that they are going to score. I though we had better at bats today, a lot better than we had against Southern (Illinois) last weekend. And we showed some fight in that last inning and we havent seen that in a while. We just need to come out tomorrow and play to our strengths and score more.
In game one, ISU (21-12, 5-7) squandered an opportunity to take an early lead in the bottom of the third. Mandy Garner reached on an error to leadoff the inning. Then Katie Guilbault drove the ball right back at pitcher Shannon Buslepp, who threw the ball over second base trying to get the lead runner. Tricia Gaither put both runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. However, Buslepp got out of the inning unscathed by forcing the ensuing batters to foul out and groundout leaving the bases loaded.
The Bears were able to take advantage in the top of the following frame. Michelle Armentrout led off with a single through the right side and Buslepp walked for the second straight time. They moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Then Dominique Borba knocked down Samantha Fleemans single up the middle, but not before Armentrout crossed the plate. Katie Evans followed with a double down the right field line to give SMS a 2-0 lead.
SMS (12-17, 7-7) tacked on another run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Sara Cole singled to first base and beat out Guilbaults flip to Kate Stake, who was hustling over to cover first. Cole moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Armentrouts RBI single to left field for the games final score.
The Birds had four hits in the game; however, each hit came from a different player and none came in the same inning. Gaither, Jen Wright, Randi Patton and Garner each had one hit. Armentrout led all batters with two hits.
Buslepp (6-8) picked up the win, striking out four and walking one. Melissa Porche earned her first save of the season in two-thirds innings of work. Stacy Birk (10-4) took the loss, her third straight. She walked two, struck out two and surrendered four hits and two runs in 3.1 innings.
Again it was SMS taking an early lead in game two, just after the Redbirds were unable to capitalize with runners on. With one out in the top of the third, Guilbault doubled to left center. Following a strikeout, Gaither singled through the left side, putting runners on the corners. But left fielder Katie Martin made a diving catch in foul territory to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third with one out, Cole reached on a bunt single. Martin got on when pitcher Shannon Nicholsons throw to first on the bunt was in the dirt. Cole then scored on Armentrouts double to left center as Martin moved to third. Nicholson got out of the jam by striking out the next batter and forcing a groundout to end the frame.
SMS loaded the bases with one out in the fifth on consecutive singles by Cole, Martin and Armentrout. Nicholson struck out the next batter before inducing a foul out to the catcher to get out of the inning.
After a dropped foul ball, Fleeman reached on a double to left field to start the sixth inning. The ensuing batter reached on a Redbird error to put runners on the corners. Alicia Jager drove in the second run of the game with a bunt single to the right side.
In the top of the seventh, the Redbirds staged a valiant comeback. With one out, Patton singled to the shortstop. After a second strikeout, Borba reached on a walk. Then RaeAnn Ewen stepped to the plate. Ewen went deep into the count, fouling off about five pitches, before freezing on a change-up and being hit by it. But the umpire ruled that she didnt attempt to get out of the way, so the pitch was ruled a ball. Ewen then sent the next pitch into left field, scoring Patton for the Redbirds first run of the day. The left fielder bobbled putting both Borba and Ewen in scoring position with two outs. The rally was short-lived though as Guilbault flew out to right field to end the game.
Gaither, Patton, Ewen and Guilbault tallied the four ISU hits in the second game. Meanwhile, the Bears had three players with two hits apiece.
Nicholson (11-8) took the loss, striking out five and walking one, while Porche (4-4) earned the W for SMS. She struck out nine and walked two. Buslepp picked up her first save of the season in a third of an inning.
