May 19, 2006
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa -
Illinois State has struggled as of late with getting the timely hit and Friday's game against No. 4 California in the NCAA Tournament was no different, as the Golden Bears gained a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first that held up for the final score. The `Birds will take on Iowa tomorrow in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m. on the Hawkeyes' home field.
Cal's leadoff batter, Alex Sutton, hit a single to left field to get the offense going in the bottom of the first. She moved to second on a wild pitch by Redbird starter Stacy Birk and got over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsay James. A Haley Woods' RBI single up the middle gave the Golden Bears what would ultimately be the lone run needed to claim victory in the contest.
Casey Gorrell recorded Illinois State's first hit of the game in the top of the second. With one out, she popped a single up the middle off the handle of the bat for the Redbirds' second baserunner of the game. Amber Smith had reached in the opening frame after being hit by a pitch. ISU was unable to capitalize on the hit after two-time all-American and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year Kristina Thorson (33-8) stuck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Smith hit a leadoff single up the middle in the top of the fourth for the `Birds' second hit of the game. With Jackie Williams in to run, Birk sacrificed her over to second with a bunt. However, Williams wouldn't go any further as Thorson retired the next two batters on a pop out and a groundout. Thorson earned the victory, striking out 14 and surrendering four hits.
Tiffany Prager and Birk each reached on two-out singles in the fifth and sixth, respectively; but Illinois State couldn't get them around as Thorson struck out the following batter each time.
After struggling the first inning, Birk pitched a strong game, at one point retiring 13 straight batters. She worked her way out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth after surrendering a one-out double to James. After intentionally walking Woods, Cal had a pair of runners on the base paths. The ensuing batter hit a chopper back to Birk in the circle, and she made the throw to third for the second out of the inning on the force. A strikeout by Birk ended the threat, but the `Birds were unable to mount a comeback as Birk (21-10) shouldered the loss. She struck out four and scattered four hits while yielding just one walk.
