April 9, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State looked like an entirely different team on Sunday as the `Birds managed just four hits off Drake pitcher Jessica Hicks, who they roughed up for eight hits and nine runs in the first inning of the opener on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who compiled 12 hits in the 5-1 victory, handed ISU its first home loss of the season . It is the first time that Drake and its head coach, former ISU assistant Rich Calvert, have won at Redbird Softball Complex since the opening of the facility prior to the 1999 season.
Drake (15-21, 5-8) scored a pair in the second inning as Emily Hajduk and Marilyn Buss hit back-to-back singles. A Jamie Desjarlais single up the middle plated Hajduk for the first Bulldog run. Starting pitcher Stacy Birk struck out the ensuing batter and the `Birds got a force out at third on a fielder's choice for the second out. But a Mollie Daniels' single down the right field line, the fourth hit of the frame, brought in a second run as the Bulldogs took their first lead of the weekend.
A leadoff walk to Kristin Birocci presented problems for Illinois State in the fourth. Following a pop out, Daniels singled through the left side as Birocci moved to second. After a strikeout, Buss hit a bloop RBI single to right field and Birocci came around to score. With runners on the corners, Buss got caught up between first and second on the double steal attempt. During the rundown, Daniels stole home as Katie Guilbault's throw to the plate was late and Buss successfully made it to second.
Illinois State (23-11, 10-4) left runners stranded in every inning but the seventh even though they didn't get their first hit until the bottom of the fourth when Casey Gorrell laced a double down the left field line with two out in the inning. Guilbault's double over the head of the left fielder drove in the only run of the game for the Redbirds.
Tiffany Prager hit a leadoff single to start the Redbird offense in the fifth. Tricia Gaither was then walked as the `Birds looked to add to their run total. However, Randi Patton was called out as she stepped on the plate on the sacrifice attempt and Amber Smith went down swinging for the second out. Kelsey Warning's grounder to the third base allowed the Bulldogs to get out of the inning without being scored on as Bulldog Shanna Cook stepped on third for the force out. ISU also left a runner on third with two down in the sixth.
Birk falls to 11-6 with the loss. She allowed six hits, three runs and a walk while striking out four. Hicks, who improves to 8-9, struck out eight Redbirds and walked two.
Hajduk led all batters with four hits, while another trio of Bulldogs collected two hits apiece. Gorrell, who doubled twice, had two of Illinois State's four hits on the day.
