May 7, 2006
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It took a total team effort for the Illinois State softball squad to accomplish their season-long goal of winning a Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, their first since 2003, with a pair of wins over Missouri State on the Bears' home field on Sunday. A couple of strong performances in the circle from Stacy Birk and timely hitting from the Redbird offense helped ISU win 5-0 and 6-1 to also earn the No. 1 seed in next week's State Farm MVC Tournament.
After Tricia Gaither reached base safely on the first hit of the day for either team, Randi Patton lined the first pitch of her at bat over the fence in centerfield to put Illinois State up 2-0 in the third inning of the opener.
The Redbirds (36-12, 19-4) added another pair of runs in the fifth following Tiffany Prager's leadoff single to centerfield. Gaither then stepped to the plate and popped a home run over the left field fence to give ISU a four-run advantage. Then with one out in the sixth, Patton reached on catcher's interference. She got into scoring position on a passed ball, just before Amber Smith reached on a walk. Birk then hit a fly to deep centerfield. The Bears' Sara Cole made the catch, but it appeared as if she thought it was the third out, as Patton tagged up and made it all the way home sliding under the tag for the 5-0 lead.
Missouri State (37-15, 18-4) didn't get its first hit until Samantha Fleeman sent a shot up the middle between Redbird starting pitcher Stacy Birk's legs with one out in the fourth. Fleeman got the Bears' offense started in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single to right field. Following a fly out and a strikeout, Melissa Porche singled to left field to put a pair of Missouri State runners on. However a foul out by the ensuing batter gave the 'Birds the victory.
In game two, Smith broke open a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with her 16th home run of the season. However, Missouri State battled back in the bottom of the sixth as Fleeman blasted a home run to right field to tie it up at 1-1.
The 'Birds were down to their final out in the top of the seventh, when Gaither reached on a bunt single as the third baseman didn't even make the throw to first base. Patton followed with a RBI double off the wall in left field, and she advanced to third on the throw to the infield. Them Smith hit a bomb well over the left field fence that gave ISU a 4-1 lead. After Birk singled to third base, Kelsey Warning added another home run. Her shot to left center increased the Bears' deficit to five, the game's final margin.
Birk (20-7) tossed two complete games, earning both wins. In the opener, she struck out three and scattered three hits. Birk allowed just five hits in the second game as she walked one batter and struck out three. Shannon Buslepp (16-4) received the loss in game one. She allowed six hits, four earned runs and four walks. Melissa Porche (16-7) shouldered the loss in the nightcap, fanning nine and walking one as she scattered nine hits.
Patton and Gaither each finished the day with three hits, while Patton and Smith were the RBI leaders with three apiece. Gaither and Warning also chipped in two RBI each.
ISU shattered its single season home run record with 49 this season, while Smith also became the first player in ISU softball history to compile at least 40 hits, 40 runs and 40 RBI in the same season.
