March 25, 2006
Box Score
PEORIA, Ill. -
Shannon Nicholson's strong performance in the circle and some power hitting by the Illinois State offense, helped the Redbirds claim a pair of wins over Missouri Valley Conference rival Bradley on Saturday at Laura Bradley Park in Peoria. The `Birds pounded out 11 hits in the opener as they pulled away late for a 9-3 victory. Then ISU came from behind, scoring one run apiece in the seventh and eighth innings for the 3-2 win.
"Bradley's not a team that's going to just roll over, they keep coming at you," ISU head coach Melinda Fischer said. "I thought we got a little complacent in the first game. But then we really went after them. We just needed to make our adjustments earlier. But I thought we had some good at bats today, we just couldn't get anything going back to back. I was really please with the production we got from some of our players coming in off the bench."
Illinois State (16-7, 5-0) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Braves were even able to record an out. The `Birds got back-to-back singles from Tricia Gaither and Randi Patton and Amber Smith was walked to load the bases. Kelsey Warning then grounded out to third, but Gaither was able to sneak across for the lead.
The `Birds added a pair of runs with two out in the second. Tiffany Prager reached on a one-out fielder's choice and Gaither followed with a single up the middle. Patton's fly ball was then misplayed by centerfielder Stephanie Ramsey allowing two runs to score for a 3-0 Redbird advantage. However, Jessie Musgrove helped the Braves (10-11, 1-3) get one back with a solo home run to right field in the bottom half of the second.
In the third, Bethany Till reached on a Redbird error and moved to third on Joanna Pettit's two-out single that fell in for a hit in right field. Elizabeth Wilson then laced a shot down the first base line for a double. Two runs scored as the Braves knotted the score at 3-3.
After holding off Bradley in both the fourth and fifth innings, the Redbirds regained the lead for good in the top of the sixth. Casey Gorrell hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Prager's bloop single to left field put the `Birds back in front by one. Gaither then reached on a fielder's choice and Patton singled up the middle to set the table for Amber Smith. Smith's first hit of the day, a 0-1 blast over the fence in right center gave ISU a 7-3 lead. It was Smith's eighth homer of the season, moving her up to No. 9 on the career home run list at Illinois State.
With two down in the seventh, Prager's RBI double to the gap in left center scored a pair for the final margin. Prior to Prager's hit, Katie Guilbault had reached on a one-out single and Kaprice Williams got on via a base on balls.
Shannon Nicholson (8-5) picked up the win in relief. She scattered two hits, walked one and struck out four in three and a third innings. Rebecca Bishop (2-4) shouldered the loss for the Braves, surrendering seven hits, six earned runs and a pair of walks while striking out four.
In the opener, Gaither led the `Birds with three hits and three runs, while Smith and Prager each had three RBI. Emily Bergeson and Pettit had two hits each to lead the Bradley offense.
Warning broke open the pitcher's duel in the fourth inning of game two. Her first pitch home run to left field, ISU's first hit of the game, gave Illinois State a slim 1-0 advantage. But the lead was short-lived as Musgrove's second homer of the day, a two-run shot to left field with one out, gave Bradley a 2-1 edge in the fifth.
The Redbirds' second hit of the nightcap, also by Warning ignited a Redbird rally in the top of the seventh. Pinch runner Katie Thoennes advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Gorrell's double off the fence in left field to tie things up at 2-2.
Patton's eighth inning round-tripper with two outs gave the Redbirds the final run they needed to claim a second win of the day.
Warning went two-for-two with a RBI in the nightcap, while Patton and Gorrell each had one hit and one RBI. Pettit paced the Braves with a pair of hits, while Musgrove accounted for both of its runs.
Nicholson went the distance for her second straight win. She allowed five hits while striking out three and walking one. Ashley Birdsong (4-4) suffered the loss for Bradley. Birdsong fanned eight and walked two while surrendering just four hits.
"Shannon came in and did a great job," ISU head coach Melinda Fischer said. "I think she would take one pitch back, but fortunately we were able to come back and get the win.
"Casey's hit in the seventh was humongous. Randi also made a good adjustment (on her home run) from her previous at bat. She stayed in there and was patient."
The `Birds, who ran their win streak to eight games, wrap up the series with a noon contest in Peoria tomorrow.
