April 14, 2007
Box Score
DES MOINES, Iowa -
Six home runs in game one, two each from Jessie Buker, Kelsey Warning and Amber Smith, set a new single game record at Illinois State and highlighted Redbird softball head coach Melinda Fischer's 714th career victory, as the Redbirds defeated Drake, 11-4, in Missouri Valley Conference softball action in Des Moines, Iowa. With the win, Fischer now has more wins than any other coach in Illinois State athletics history and obtains sole possession of the ISU winningest coach title with her Redbird career record of 715-475-3. It was a Kaprice Williams home run that won the second game for the `Birds, as the sophomore's three-run shot in the top of the seventh gave ISU a one-run, 3-2, lead that held for the final score.
The `Birds improve to 35-9 overall on the year, 12-3 in Valley play. Drake falls to 12-28, 2-10 MVC.
The new winningest coach in Illinois State history, Fischer surpassed former Redbird baseball coach, the late Duffy Bass to assume the title. She credited each person that has been associated with the Redbird softball program with her success.
"It's been an interesting couple of weeks since someone pointed out that this might happen," said Fischer. "I have very fond memories of Coach Duffy Bass. I had him as a professor in undergrad and then again in graduate school, and I also had the pleasure of coaching with him in my first years at Illinois State. He was a tremendous person and did a lot of great things for Illinois State and for our community. It means a lot to me to be associated with him. This isn't about me at all; this is about each and every person who have done so much for Illinois State softball. It all goes back to me coming back here 22 years ago, to a place that I love, to a place that is my life, and being given the opportunity to do something great. It's been a great experience."
Drake was the first on the board in the bottom of the first, tallying its first run against a ranked opponent this season. Leadoff batter Lindsey Larry drew a walk off Redbird starter Stacy Birk and advanced to third on a pair of past balls charged to ISU catcher Casey Gorrell. Susan Slycord then took a pitch to the center field warning track, but the high fly ball was caught by Jackie Williams for the second out of the inning. Slycord was credited with a sacrifice fly as Larry crossed, giving Drake the early 1-0 lead.
Sophomore Smith tied the ballgame in the top of the second, 1-1, blasting a home run that easily cleared the left field wall. With the long ball, Smith took sole possession of the Illinois State career home runs record at 26 in just her second season in an ISU uniform.
After two full scoreless innings, the `Birds used a two-out rally in the top of the fifth, pushing the score to 6-1 in favor of ISU. Buker started the offensive output, launching a two-run shot over the center field fence to plate Kara Nelson, who slapped a single to Drake first baseman Marilyn Buss and beat the throw to first to get on base. The homer was the 11th on the year for Buker and the sophomore utility player tallied her 35th RBI of 2007. Warning then stepped to the plate and took her second pitch over the left field wall, hitting her 13th homer of the season as the `Birds smacked back-to-back home runs, the second time this season they accomplished the feat. Smith then earned a walk and was joined on the bases by Birk, who singled through the right side of the infield to take first base. Smith and Birk both scored when Gorrell collected her first hit on the day, a hard-hit double to deep left field. Gorrell tallied two RBI with the hit and the `Birds plated five runs on five hits in the top of the fifth to take the lead.
But Buker and Warning weren't done yet as the pair launched back-to-back homers again in the sixth, marking the second consecutive inning the two hit long balls. The homers were numbers 12 and 14, respectively on the year for Buker and Warning. Buker finished the game with four RBI, while Warning turned in a 4-for-5 effort in game one. Smith, the ensuing batter, added to the excitement, also lifting her second home run of the game, marking the first time this season that three Redbird batters hit consecutive home runs. Smith's homer was her 10th of the year, and 27th of her career, as the team set a new single game record with six home runs in a game. Birk reached on a walk from relief pitcher Stefanie Clayton and advanced to second when Gorrell settled into first on a throwing error to by shortstop Larry. Kaprice Williams then roped a double into left filed as Birk crossed for the `Birds' 11th run of the game.
ISU's 11-1 lead was short lived, however, as Drake's second baseman Jaci Faidley hit a home run of her own, her first of the season. Faidley's homer was a three-run shot that pulled the Bulldogs within seven, 11-4, forcing the seventh inning. But Illinois State held on for the win, not allowing any additional runs in the seventh. Birk took the win in the circle, lasting all seven innings and moving to 18-4 in 2007. She struck out three and gave up 10 hits.
Fischer commented on the offensive production and the contagious nature of her team's hitting.
"After a little bit of a slow start, we really got things going in the first game and our bats just caught fire and those home runs got contagious for us," said Fischer. "I thought the team regained their focus and after we got one hit, everyone else relaxed a little bit up there, sat back and drove the ball they way they are capable. But then we had some opportunities in the second game that we didn't take advantage of and had some miscues on defense that Drake was able to capitalize on. But Kaprice Williams came up huge for us, pounding that ball over the fence. Kaprice took a good cut at that ball and it just went. It was good to see that comeback."
In game two, freshman pitcher Mandy Osborn silenced the Redbird bats, allowing just three hits through six innings. Redbird starter Shannon Nicholson had a similar performance, allowing just two hits, while striking out and walking just one Bulldog batter until the bottom of the sixth. But back-to-back errors by Williams and Nicholson proved costly as base runners Larry and Jenna Wilkin advanced to second and third on a Slycord sacrifice. Drake centerfielder Emily Hajduk then ripped a double to deep right field to score both Larry and Wilkin and the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead.
But Williams redeemed herself in the top of the seventh, launching a three-run homer with one out to give Illinois State a 3-0 advantage. The homer was the fifth of the year for the Redbird sophomore and gave ISU 63 home runs on the year. Pinch running Andrea Shifflet, who came in for Smith, and Birk, scored on Williams' long ball.
Nicholson retired three straight Drake batters in the bottom of the seventh, striking out two to earn the complete-game victory. She improved to 14-4 on the year, giving up just three hits to the 25 batters she faced.
Illinois State and Drake will meet for the third and final game of the Missouri Valley Conference series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Buel Field in Des Moines, Iowa.
