April 19, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State jumped out in front early and never looked back en route to a 10-1 win over Indiana State at Redbird Softball Complex on Wednesday. With the win the `Birds completed the three-game sweep of the Sycamores, improving to 14-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play and 29-11 overall.
With Tricia Gaither on courtesy of a leadoff walk, Randi Patton tripled down the left field line to bring in ISU's first run in the opening frame. A wild pitch allowed Patton to score before Kelsey Warning reached on a one-out walk. Starting pitcher Stacy Birk doubled to the gap in right center to put a pair of Redbirds in scoring position. Another walk loaded the bases, setting up Katie Guilbault's sacrifice fly for the third run of the game.
"With conference games you never know what's going to happen," Redbird head coach Melinda Fischer said. "Their first pitcher, I've never seen her at all. But we were able to attack her and score early. I thought we had other opportunities but we weren't able to capitalize on them. It was good to see us get so many runs, which is really important this time of the season."
The Redbird bats got hot again in the bottom of the third. Jessie Buker, in for Warning, got things started with a single to right and Birk followed with a base on balls to put two `Birds on the base paths. A sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position and following a pop out on the infield Illinois State did some damage with two outs. Kaprice Williams hit a RBI single through the left side and Tiffany Prager walked to fill the bases. Gaither singled up the middle, plating two Redbirds, and advanced to second on the throw to the plate keeping a pair in scoring position. Patton then doubled to right center to clear the bases, making it 8-0. Amber Smith then stepped up and sent the first offering from relief pitcher Julie Damico over the wall in centerfield for ISU's final two runs. Smith's home run was her 15th this season. She needs just three more to tie the Missouri Valley Conference and Illinois State single season record of 18 set by Redbird Emily Krueger in 2004.
Indiana State broke up the shutout in the fourth inning. Jackie Chomicki and Stephanie Spychaj each singled to put runners on the corners. The ensuing batter hit the ball to Williams at shortstop and the `Birds caught Chomicki in a rundown between third and home, but she was able to get back to third safely. With the bases loaded, Birk walked Yvette Tovar as the Sycamores got on the board. Indiana State threatened again in the fifth but was unable to score.
"I'm sure Stacy's disappointed that she gave up that walk which allowed them to score," Fischer said. "Something we've been working on in practice is when we're ahead in the count, not giving them a hitter's pitch. She was ahead in the count 0-2, but she wasn't able to hit her spots. But I though she did a real nice job of striking out the next batter and staying strong through the fifth inning."
Birk (14-6) recorded the win for the `Birds, striking out four and walking a pair while scattering four hits. Starter Natalie Kopp (1-3) endured the loss for the Sycamores. She allowed two hits and three earned runs while walking a pair in a third of an inning.
Patton led the Redbird offense with two hits and three RBI, while both Gaither and Smith drove in a pair. Spychaj had two hits for the Sycamores.
