March 19, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - For the first time since 2002, the Illinois State softball team completed the regular season sweep of Creighton with a 6-0 win on Sunday at Redbird Softball Complex. A strong performance in the circle by Stacy Birk and some powerful hitting helped the 'Birds open Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-0 record.
"We feel great about being 3-0 in the conference," ISU head coach Melinda Fischer said. "We came out very focused today and Creighton came out strong too, getting pair of runners in scoring position in that first inning. But Stacy was under control and she did what she had to do."
With one on and two out in the bottom of the first, Kelsey Warning sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left field to give the Redbirds (14-7) an early 2-0 lead. Then Birk made it back-to-back homers as she sent the first pitch over the right field wall just inside the foul pole for a three-run advantage.
After Creighton starter Stephanie Cortese gave up a leadoff walk to Kaprice Williams in the bottom of the second, Tiffany Prager moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Tricia Gaither then knocked a RBI double off the wall in left field to make it 4-0 ISU.
Jessie Buker scored the Redbirds' fifth run of the game in the fifth inning. Birk reached on a leadoff walk and moved to third when relief pitcher Cassidy Nee threw the ball over the first baseman's head on Buker's grounder back to the circle. With both runners in scoring position, Birk attempted to score as the ball got past the catcher, but the ball came back hard off the screen preventing Illinois State from adding to its run total. However, Buker moved to third on the play and was able to give ISU a five-run lead as she scored on a passed ball.
Illinois State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single by Prager and back-to-back walks. Warning's sacrifice fly to right field with one out gave ISU its largest lead of the day for the final score.
"I thought we played really well this weekend," Fischer said. "Our defense was sound. Offensively we got off to a slow start yesterday but eventually we got it going. We were able to play our type of game and I really thought we showed a lot of character. Everyone made contributions that was asked to."
Birk (8-2) earned the "W", striking out six and walking three while scattering three hits. Cortese (5-4) shouldered the loss for Creighton (10-11, 0-3). Gaither led the 'Birds with a pair of hits, while Warning drove in a team leading three runs. Jessica German had two of the Bluejays' three hits on the day.
ISU hosts DePaul on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
