Sept. 17, 2006
ORLAND PARK, Ill. -
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the scoring run on second base, heavy rain and thundershowers forced an immediate end to the Illinois State softball team's game against DePaul, as the teams settled in a 3-3 tie Sunday afternoon at the Chicagoland Fall Classic. Earlier in the day, the Redbirds opened the tournament in a winning fashion, posting a decisive 11-1 win over Indiana, continuing the `Birds' fall season winning streak.
Scheduled to play a 4 p.m. game against Loyola-Chicago, the weather cancelled the tournament as the `Birds came away with a 1-0-1 record on the day, improving to an undefeated 5-0-1 for the fall.
Picking up the early win for the `Birds was senior pitcher Stacy Birk, who earned just one run in the opener. Birk fanned four, allowing only three hits and a single walk in six full innings of work. On offense, Birk drove in two RBI, going one-for-three at the plate against the Hoosiers.
Despite Illinois State's 11 hits from various team members, head coach Melinda Fischer was able to pinpoint a key moment in the game.
"I thought we started off a little slow in the first inning against Indiana," said Fischer. "Then Casey (Gorrell) came up with a big hit for us and we were able to consistently do some good things on the offensive end of the game. When Indiana switched pitchers, we were really able to jump on her. So, it was good to see some offensive production out of everyone. We played a really solid ballgame against Indiana."
The `Birds pounded 11 hits against Indiana pitchers Monica Wright and Jennifer Moore. Leading ISU's offensive attack was sophomore catcher Casey Gorrell. Notching two RBI, Gorrell went two-for-three at the plate for the Redbirds, as she went on score three runs.
Adding to the Illinois State onslaught were sophomores Jessie Buker and Kaprice Williams. Buker went two-for-three in the win, driving in a run and scoring two for ISU. Williams also notched two RBI for the `Birds.
Illinois State scored in four innings, recording a pair of runs in the second and the fourth innings, four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. The Hoosiers notched their only run of the morning in the top of the third inning.
In the Redbirds 2 p.m. game against DePaul, sophomore Amber Smith was the offensive force, driving in two of ISU's three runs. In the first inning, Smith plated freshman Kara Nelson. Illinois State's second run was scored in the third inning, when junior co-captain Tiffany Prager crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Smith then went on to hit in Jackie Williams in the bottom of the sixth. Smith ended 2-4 in the tie, with both RBI.
Senior pitcher Shannon Nicholson pitched six-and-one-thirds innings, giving up nine hits and earning a pair of DePaul runs. She walked none and recorded no strike-outs. Relieving Nicholson was Birk, who came in with a single out in the sixth to allow two hits and a single unearned run in one-and-two-thirds inning of work.
Fischer had positive things to say about the both the Redbirds offensive and defensive play.
"I saw a lot of great things today," said Fischer. "Amber just really drove the ball for us today. She was really hitting the ball hard. I also thought we had several good defensive plays. Kaprice made some good plays at shortstop, along with Jessie at third, and Tiffany had a great catch up the middle. I thought Stacy did a nice job pitching. She had several pitches going for her and came in for relief when we needed her. I'm continued to be impressed by Andrea (Shifflet). She came in to pinch run for us and she ran really well on the bases.
The Redbirds return to action next weekend, playing in their third tournament of the fall, Sunday, Sept. 24. The Reverse Exposure Tournament, hosted by Saint Louis University, will be played in Kirkwood, Mo.
