March 2, 2007
Box Score
LOS ANGELES -
Down by a single run in the bottom of the seventh, and runners on second and third, catcher Casey Gorrell stepped to the plate and singled through the right side of the, driving in two runs for the Illinois State softball team, lifting the `Birds over No. 12 UCLA, 2-1, in an exhilarating, come-from-behind victory. The win was not only the second of the day for the Redbirds, but the second over a top-25 squad, as ISU downed Florida (1-0) to open the day at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles.
No. 25 Illinois State improves to 13-4 on the year with the pair of Friday wins. The Bruins move to 12-6 on the year, while the `Birds served pitcher Lisa Dodd her first loss of the season (1-1).
Redbird head coach Melinda Fischer gave credit to the Bruin senior pitcher.
"Dodd did a tremendous job in the circle for UCLA," commented Fischer. "She mixed her speeds well and her balls were moving through the zone. We had some good at bats and made her work out there but I thought she did a great job for UCLA."
The Bruins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Kaila Shull, who trotted to first after being hit by a Stacy Birk pitch, stole second to assume scoring position for UCLA. First baseman Megan Langenfeld plated Shull, taking a single to shallow left field for the first run of the game. The Redbird defense held for the remainder of the game, stifling the UCLA offense and not allowing additional Bruin runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Illinois State senior Jackie Williams collected the first hit for the `Birds off UCLA starter Lisa Dodd. The center fielder laced a hard hit to Bruin third baseman Julie Burney who knocked the ball down but couldn't make a play as Williams sprinted to first. Kara Nelson popped out the shortstop to end the inning with one hit and one runner left on.
After two scoreless innings, Williams picked up her second hit in the bottom of the sixth. Hitting a clean single into left field, Williams found her place at first before advancing to second on a Nelson sacrifice bunt. But a line out by Tiffany Prager and a swinging strike out from Amber Smith ended the inning and the `Birds' chance to tie the game.
The Redbird defense collected three quick outs in the top of the seventh after Tara Henry singled to first base to open the inning. Sophomore Jessie Buker tallied two of those outs, catching fly balls hit to her in left field.
Drawing a walk to open the inning, Kelsey Warning battled through a full count to trot down to first. Andrea Shifflet came into pinch run for Warning and advanced to second as Buker laid down a bunt, picked up by Dodd. Buker reached on a fielding error on the sacrifice, as Bruin second baseman Celina Rubalcaba dropped the throw to first. The pair advanced a base each, with Shifflet on third and Buker on second, on another perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by freshman designated hitter Michelle Henderson. Gorrell, the ensuing batter, took a pitch through the right side to plate Shifflet and Buker, as Fischer waved both home. The two RBI for Gorrell pushed her season total to nine.
"I thought Andrea did a nice job of reading the play and being able to score herself. Kelsey had a great at bat and really battled up there to draw the walk and set that up for Andrea. Jessie followed my signs and really ran the bases well. Today worked out for us and I hope this momentum continues throughout the weekend."
Birk earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game for ISU. She scattered five hits and struck out just two, improving to 6-1 on the year.
"Stacy pitched a great game," said Fischer. "She was maybe a little out of sync in the first inning after they scored that run and she hit a batter. But we continued to play some consistent defense and pitching coach Bill Kennedy went out there to settle her down. I was really proud of the way she responded."
Illinois State continues play in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles on Saturday March 3, playing just a single game against Long Beach State at 5 p.m. (CST).
