March 11, 2007
Box Score
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The No. 18 Illinois State softball team completed a four-game shutout weekend defeating both Southeast Missouri State (7-0) and Belmont (11-0) on Sunday afternoon in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Not only did the `Birds claim championship honors at the Southeast Missouri State Spring Classic going 4-0, but ISU out-scored its opponents 37-0 on the weekend.
After the undefeated weekend and back-to-back tournament championships, Illinois State finds itself on a six-game winning streak, improving to 19-5 on the year. With the losses, SEMO moves to 3-7 on the year while Belmont falls to 5-14.
Redbird head coach Melinda Fischer thought her team had consistent play in all four games on Saturday and Sunday.
"I thought we had some very consistent play this weekend," commented Fischer. "We battled well in the batters box, and even though we saw some miscues on the defensive end, we then saw corrections after we made those errors. I felt that overall this weekend, we played really well not giving up a run. I'm really proud of this team for doing that."
After a scoreless first inning in the first game against Southeast Missouri State, Redbird shortstop Kaprice Williams cleared the bases in the top of the second with a three-run homer over the left field wall. The long ball was the fourth on the weekend for the `Birds, as ISU hit at least one home run in each of its first three games, giving the squad 24 for the year. Williams fourth shot of the year gave the `Birds a 3-0 advantage.
Illinois State added a run in the top of the fourth, as Jessie Buker opened the inning with a double to left center field. Buker advanced to third on a single through the left side from designated player Stacy Birk. The ensuing batter, Redbird catcher Casey Gorrell, was credited with an RBI ground out, smacking the ball to Southeast Missouri State first baseman Stacia Dopudja who tagged first but couldn't throw out Buker, who crossed the plate for a 4-0 ISU lead.
Buker and Birk strung together back-to-back singles in the fifth, each driving in an RBI. The pair improved to 2-for-2 for game one with the hits, while Buker finished with a perfect 3-for-three effort. Birk (2-for-three) and Williams (3-for-four) added to the Illinois State offensive attack.
Birk came in to relieve Nicholson in the bottom of the sixth, striking out the final two batters of the inning and finishing the game with four strike outs.
Illinois State scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh and held Southeast Missouri State on defense, securing the 7-0 `Bird win. Nicholson picked up the win, improving to 11-3 in '07. She gave up just two hits and struck out seven of the 21 Redhawk batters she faced.
Against Belmont in game two, Illinois State put single runs on the board in the first and second innings, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. The Bruins threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases with only a single out. But Belmont second baseman Angie Helseth hit a ball back to Birk in the circle, who threw to Gorrell behind the plate to get the lead runner and prevent the run. Gorrell then fired to first with her throw beating Helseth to the bag, completing the double play.
The `Birds then re-wrote the record books in the bottom of the third, as Amber Smith and Kelsey Warning hit back-to-back homeruns. It was the first time Illinois State had accomplished the feat since May 8, 2004 when former Redbirds Mandy Garner and Emily Krueger smacked consecutive homers against Evansville. Smith's long ball was a two-run shot, driving in Tiffany Prager who reached with a stand-up double that hit off the left field wall. After Buker collected the first out of the inning with a fly ball to left field, Birk stepped to the plate and launched a home run of her own, her first of the season, that easily cleared the right field wall to put the `Birds up 6-0.
Jackie Williams opened the fourth inning with a walk off Belmont reliever Heather Grossnickle but was quickly plated by Kara Nelson who put a double over Bruin left fielder Erin Mullen's head for the RBI extra-base hit. Nelson advanced to third on a Prager ground out to the pitcher. Smith then exploded for her second home run of the game, putting a Grossnickle pitch over the right center field wall on the two-run shot. Smith's home runs came in back-to-back at bats and resulted in five RBI, as the sophomore first baseman now has three homers on the year. The Redbird offensive lineup continued the hot hitting, plating three additional runs in the fifth. Illinois State scored five runs on three hits in the fourth, finishing with 11 runs and 11 hits.
After coming in to close out the Southeast Missouri State contest, Birk picked up the complete game shutout against Belmont, scattering four hits and striking out five. Birk improved to 8-2 on the year with the victory.
"Stacy did well offensively for us and she also pitched well," said Fischer. "She came in for Shannon in the first game and finished that out and then continued that great pitching in the second game against Belmont."
With four homers in the game, it marked the eighth time this season Illinois State has hit numerous long shots in a single game. Leading the Valley in the category, the Redbirds increased their 2007 home run total to 28 in just 19 games played.
The `Birds return to Normal, Ill., for a seven-game homestand that begins with a March 14 doubleheader against Loyola-Chicago. ISU will welcome the Ramblers for a 3 p.m. game one start time on Wednesday at the Redbird Softball Complex.
