Sept. 10, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Led by senior pitcher Shannon Nicholson, who went four-for-five at the plate on the weekend, the Illinois State softball team recorded a perfect 4-0 start to their 2006 fall season, including two Sunday shut-outs over Saint Xavier, 3-0, and Bradley, 6-0. Nicholson also picked up a pair of wins in the circle for the `Birds.
Redbird head coach Melinda Fischer, whose team allowed just one run in all four weekend games, was impressed with the play of her team.
"We were able to see a whole lot this weekend and that was really exciting," said Fischer. "We saw some things we definitely need some work on, and we found some other things that we are doing better than maybe we thought we were doing at this time in the season. We also saw some consistent things and I think that's really good."
In Sunday's first game, ISU scored a single run in the third, fourth and fifth innings, scattering nine total hits. Freshman Kara Nelson doubled to left center to open the inning and advanced to third on a Tiffany Prager sacrifice bunt. Amber Smith then hit a double of her own to left field, plating Nelson. Casey Gorrell grounded out, hitting into a double play, to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, senior centerfielder Jackie Williams hit a double to right center, and then scored as Nelson singled to right center and advanced to second on the throw home. Prager then grounded out to the shortstop to leaving Nelson in scoring position.
Smith hit her second double of the game in the bottom of the fifth, as Vicki Klopf came in to pinch run for the sophomore. Senior pitcher Stacy Birk also doubled, scoring Klopf and earning an RBI. The next three batters recorded three outs, ending the inning and the `Birds consistent scoring.
Illinois State placed five doubles in Sunday's first win, as Nelson, Smith and Birk all tabbed RBI. Birk also earned the pitching win, striking out nine, walking none and allowing just three hits.
Fischer has positive things to say about Nelson, who started in both Sunday games, smacking six hits in 11 at bats.
"Kara had a good day. She seems to be able to make some things happen, right off the bat, in that lead-off spot in our lineup," said Fisher. "That is really what we are looking for. She has some versatility, being a left-handed batter and she can do a lot of different things up there at the plate. I think she put some good pressure on the defense. Kara also played pretty consistently defensively."
The Redbirds wasted no time in the second game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a Smith homerun. Nelson singled up the middle and advanced to second on another Prager sacrifice. With one out, Smith, who hit 17 homeruns as a freshman, launched a round-tripper over the left fielder's head, driving in two RBI. Two groundouts, by the fourth and fifth Redbird batters, would end the inning.
Nicholson started the Redbird rally in the bottom of the second, opening the inning with a well-placed single up the left-field line. Klopf would come in to pinch run for the pitcher and reached second on a Gorrell sacrifice. Sophomore shortstop Kaprice Williams fouled out to the first baseman for the second out of the inning.
Jackie Williams then picked up where she left off in the first game, hitting a single to right field and advancing to second on the throw to the plate. Williams scored Klopf, for her second RBI of the day. Nelson also continued her hitting streak, singling to the shortstop, as Williams advanced to third. Bradley shortstop had a wild throw to first that scored Williams. With Prager up to bat, Nelson stole second on the batter's first pitch. Prager then roped a single into left field, and Nelson would score for her second RBI of the day.
Fisher was also pleased with the performance of her veteran players.
"Kaprice really had a good game at shortstop in this last game. She made some big plays for us," said Fischer. "Shannon (Nicholson), offensively, for not having hit at all last year, she really came out strong. That was good to see. And Jackie did a great job at the plate, as well."
ISU wouldn't score again until the fifth, when Smith was walked after hitting a homerun in the first inning. Andrea Shifflet, a junior transfer, pinch ran for Smith and advanced to second when Marilyn Tresenriter, a DH for Birk, grounded out to the shortstop. Shifflet trotted over to third on a past ball and then scored as Jessie Buker grounded out to the shortstop.
Both Nelson and Nicholson had a pair of hits in the second game, with Nelson scoring twice for the `Birds. Nicholson also picked up the second shutout of the day in the circle, allowing one hit and striking out three.
Illinois State continues its fall season next weekend, traveling to the Orland Park Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 17.
