Feb. 24, 2006
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga. -
Freshman Amber Smith drove in five runs on Friday, leading the Illinois State softball team to two straight wins at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Smith had two of the Redbirds' season high 11 hits in the first win, a 5-2 decision against Massachusetts. Then she hit a two-run homer in the first inning of ISU's 3-2 win over No. 24 ranked Louisville. The win over the Cardinals was Illinois State's first win over a ranked team in seven tries this season.
"Amber had a great day, and we're pretty excited about the wins we got today," ISU head coach Melinda Fischer said. "We battled well in both games and came up with big hits in key situations. We kept coming at people and coming at people, and then we kept stopping them on defense. We got into jams and we got out of jams, but things worked out the way we wanted. It's all about learning, making adjustments and continuing to do what we want to do."
The Redbirds (3-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first against UMass. Casey Gorrell reached on a leadoff single to left field. Following a sacrifice bunt, Randi Patton added another single to left and moved to second on the throw putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Smith then doubled to right center to give ISU a two-run advantage.
Illinois State pushed the lead to five runs in the top of the third courtesy of three Redbird hits. Tricia Gaither started the frame with a walk and moved to second on a groundout. Smith knocked a single through the left side for the first run of the inning, moving to second on the throw to the plate. Kelsey Warning added a RBI single to the same spot making it 4-0. Pinch runner Jackie Williams then came around to score on Katie Guilbault's double to left center for ISU's fifth run of the game.
UMass (1-6) cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kristi Stefanoni kicked off the rally with a single to left field. Candice Molinari followed with a fielder's choice bunt, but the `Birds were unable to get the runner at second as Gorrell's throw went wide right of the base putting runners on the corners. The Minutewomen then successfully executed the double steal for their first run of the game. After a groundout moved Molinari to third, she scored on KJ Kelley's single to left field for what would ultimately be the final run of the game for either team.
Starter Shannon Nicholson earned her first win of the season in striking out three and walking one while surrendering one earned run and four hits in three innings. Stacy Birk picked up the save with four innings of relief. Birk struck out two and walked a pair, allowing just two hits.
Smith and Tiffany Prager led the `Birds with two hits apiece as all but one ISU player that batted in the game had a hit. At the plate the Minutewomen were led by Kelly, who also had two hits.
In the nightcap against the unbeaten Cardinals, Smith hit a home run to deep centerfield with a 2-2 count in the bottom of the first giving ISU an early advantage.
Nicholson gave up a one-out walk in the second to give the Cardinals a base runner. After a fielder's choice in which Nicholson got the lead runner at second, Sarah Totten singled through the left side to put on a pair. Leslie Garland then singled up the middle and the Cardinals' lead runner tried to score from second but Patton's throw to the plate from centerfield was good preventing Louisville from getting on the board.
With two outs in the third, Gaither hit a long fly ball to right field and was credited with a home run as the ball went off the right fielder's glove and over the fence for a 3-0 ISU lead. It was Gaither's first homer of the season, and just the third of her career.
U of L's Jenn Skaggs led off the top of the seventh with a ball right back to Nicholson, but the ball trickled under her glove for a single. Totten then reached on a fielder's choice as the `Birds got the lead runner at second. After a groundout moved Totten to second, Audrey Rendon put Cardinals on the corners with a bunt single. It looked as if the `Birds would have their first shutout of the season as Candi Hicks hit a slow roller back to Nicholson, but Nicholson's throw sailed wide of Guilbault at first base allowing two Cardinals to score to make it 3-2. Hicks moved to second on the overthrow and Birk came on in relief for the second straight game. Birk added to the drama allowing the batter a 3-2 count before striking her out to end the game.
Nicholson (2-4) earned her second win of the day in the nightcap. She struck out three and surrendered two walks and eight hits. Birk picked up her second save of the day, striking out the only Louisville batter she faced.
Gaither led the ISU offense in game two with a pair of hits, while Rendon paced Louisville with three hits.
Tomorrow the `Birds will wrap up pool play with a 9 a.m. contest against No. 12 Northwestern. ISU currently leads its pool with a 2-0 record, while Northwestern and Louisville are both 1-1 and UMass is 0-2 after day one of play.
