April 15, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
As if earning her 700th career victory weren't enough excitement, freshman Kaprice Williams made Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer's 700th victory even more memorable with a pair of two-run homers, giving her three homers in the series, to put ISU out in front early in the 7-0 game one win. Then Stacy Birk hit a walk-off home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh for a 1-0 victory in the nightcap as the Redbirds swept the Missouri Valley Conference series from Evansville (17-21, 4-13). Fischer now owns a 701-478-3 career record.
"This was a unique game because we had 11 hits in the first game and three in second. We had a few scoring opportunities in that second game but we couldn't get a couple bunts down," Fischer said. "But we really like the confines of our home field. We're comfortable here and we've been finding ways to do what we need to do in the Valley. We need to continue with that in our next few games before we go on road to finish up conference play."
Fischer credits the people who have helped build and support the Redbird softball program with helping her reach the 700-win plateau.
"These things (milestones) are important because they reflect everything and everyone that's been in our program from the fans, to the community, the players, past and present coaching staffs, the administration and game officials. Congrats to all of them.
Williams gave the Redbirds (27-11, 13-4) all the offense they needed in the second and the fourth innings of the opener. Each time she stepped to the plate ISU had a runner on first and two outs. The freshman shortstop was up to the task as she blasted a home run in each of her first two at bats, the second of which gave Illinois State a 4-0 advantage.
"It's always a pleasant surprise when someone gets hits like Kaprice did today," Fischer said. "We thought she had some power when we recruited her. Now she's having more confidence in her swing and the more at bats a player gets the better opportunity they have to put the ball in play.
In the fifth it was another freshman, Amber Smith, pushing the lead up to six. After Randi Patton reached on a leadoff single to center, she moved to second on a throwing error. Smith then worked the count to 3-2 before hitting an opposite field home run. The round-tripper was Smith's 14th of the season, moving her into the lead in the Missouri Valley Conference.
But the ISU offense wasn't finished as a Kelsey Warning walk and a Birk single put runners on first and second. A wild pitch advanced both runners; however, the Purple Aces caught pinch runner Katie Thoennes asleep at third as she was tagged out on Casey Gorrell's grounder to the hot corner. The third baseman then made the throw to first for the double play. But Katie Guilbault came through with a clutch hit up the middle as Birk beat the tag at the plate to make it 7-0.
Birk tossed a complete game gem en route to her 13th victory. She scattered three hits and struck out five, improving her record to 13-6. Jacki Bradley (5-9) suffered the loss for Evansville, surrendering 11 hits while walking four and striking out one.
Three different players had the Aces' three hits, while Williams, Smith and Tricia Gaither each collected two hits for the `Birds.
The nightcap was a pitcher's duel with neither team collecting a hit until Evansville came through with a pair in the top of the fourth. Ashley Werner started the inning with a bloop single to left field. A sacrifice bunt moved her over to second, and then Brittany Herald's short pop fly fell in for a hit in shallow left center. Both runners got into scoring position after completing the double steal, but starting pitcher Shannon Nicholson induced a groundout and struck out Liz Mooney to end the threat.
Birk got Illinois State's first hit of the day, a hard single up the middle, to leadoff the fifth inning. But a pop up on the sacrifice attempt enabled Evansville to get the double play and clear the bases. The ensuing batter flew out to left field to end the inning.
Evansville put a pair on with two outs in both sixth and seventh innings, but Nicholson came up with key plays to get out both jams. With two outs, Cassey Kemna was hit by a pitch and Herald followed with her second single of the day. Alicia Laraway was then caught looking at strike three as the Redbirds got out of the frame. In the seventh, Evansville had the go-ahead run on third with two outs, but Nicholson induced a slow roller to third on a changeup to finish the inning with a groundout.
Down to its final at bat in the bottom of the seventh, Illinois State needed to score in order to complete the sweep. With one out, Birk sent an 0-2 pitch over the wall in centerfield. Birk's second hit of the game was also her seventh homer of the season. Patton had the `Birds' only other hit in the game, while Herald led the Aces with two of their four hits.
Nicholson (14-5) also pitched well for the Redbirds, striking out seven and scattering four hits. Ashley Hobbs (9-8) took the loss for the Aces. She surrendered three hits, walked two and struck out three.
"We really got great performances in circle today," Fischer said. "Stacy (Birk) had a great day and Shannon (Nicholson) had great day. Both have struggled as of late, and they've been coming in for each other when they get into trouble. We had a lot of key pitches in key situations where we got two or three strikeouts with runners on scoring position. Today they both showed what they're capable of doing, and hopefully this will get them back on track for the rest of the season."
