April 10, 2007
Box Score
MACOMB, Ill. - Solid pitching and a three-run homer by senior Stacy Birk lifted the No. 19 Illinois State softball team over Western Illinois, 6-1, in a non-conference midweek matchup in Macomb, Ill. Birk went 3-for-3 from the plate and her homer was the 56th for the team this season. The senior right handed hurler improved to 17-4 picking up the complete-game decision in the circle.
With the win, Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer tied the mark for most wins at Illinois State, previously held by the late Duffy Bass, as the Redbirds improve to 33-9 overall this year, and boast a 10-3 Valley record. Western Illinois falls to 12-17 and suffered their third loss on their home field.
After three full scoreless innings, the Redbirds used five hits to plate five runs in the top of the fourth. Birk battled after getting down in the count and launched a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run shot that gave ISU a 3-0 lead. Kelsey Warning opened the inning with a double that flew over left fielder Britt Mason's head. Andrea Shifflet came in to pinch run for Warning at second and was quickly joined on the bases by Amber Smith who drew a walk off Western Illinois starter Kamren Ferguson. Shifflet and Smith came around to score on Birk's homer, her second in as many games, as the `Birds increased their long ball total to 56 on the year. Kaprice Williams also collected a single to left field, her first hit since coming back from an injury suffered two weeks ago and then scored when Kara Nelson roped a double into right field. Nelson advanced to third when Westerwind right fielder Jennifer Garcia was caught out of position by the hard hit. The freshman lead-off batter came around to score as ensuing batter Tiffany Prager laced a single up the middle for the `Bird's fifth run of the game.
Smith got things going for ISU in the top of the fifth, recording a double with one out. Vicki Klopf was brought in for pinch running duties and scored, putting the Redbirds up 6-0, as Casey Gorrell was credited with an RBI double up the left field line.
Western Illinois got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, preventing the shutout. Westerwind center fielder Lindsey Hession opened the inning with a bunt single that was perfectly placed between third baseman Nelson and Birk. Hession advanced to third on an errant throw from center fielder Jackie Williams. Williams caught a fly ball for the first out of the inning and threw to first, attempting to pick off Hession but her throw flew into the WIU dugout as Hession settled into third. Garcia then hit an infield single to Kaprice Williams at shortstop as Hession crossed. The `Birds defense held strong, gathering the next two outs of the inning and didn't allow a baserunner past first base in the seventh to take the win.
Continuing the trend of midweek non-conference matchups, Illinois State returns to Normal, Ill., on Thursday, April 12 to host Northern Illinois. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. from Redbird Softball Complex
