Sept. 25, 2005
STONE CITY, Ill. -
Illinois State suffered its second loss of the fall season in its only game at the Collegiate Fall Fling in Stone City on Sunday. The `Birds fell to Northern Illinois, 4-3, before inclement weather and poor field conditions forced the cancellation of ISU's two remaining games.
"We got up there and played through the rain the entire first game," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "Then we sat and watched the next two teams play on the second field (the one our next two games were supposed to be on). The field didn't seem too safe, and our staff wasn't willing to risk injuries with this just being the fall season. So we decided to head back home."
The `Birds got behind early, but fought back to tie it up at 2-2. But the Huskies regained the lead on a two-run home run. Illinois State cut the lead to one and had the tying run at third but the Redbirds failed to push the run across.
"It was interesting day," Fischer said. "We made good adjustments after the first time through the order. We had some decent at bats, but I thought we were too impatient at times. I think that game really exposed some things."
Amber Smith took the loss for the Redbirds, who are 7-2 this fall. Northern Illinois scattered seven hits, while ISU managed just five hits, three of which were doubles by Tricia Gaither, Kelsey Warning and Tiffany Prager.
"It was good to see Amber go against, what I would consider, a good hitting team," Fischer said. "She ran into some trouble, but she was also able to get out of trouble a few times. We learned a lot about her and about our entire team today."
The Redbirds close out their fall season next weekend with games against Bradley and Lake Land College in the Illinois State Fall Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1. Illinois State will then host softball alumni for the Alumni Game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
