May 1, 2007
Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Defensive errors spelled disaster for the No. 22 Illinois State softball team on Tuesday afternoon, as the Redbirds were charged with four defensive miscues and dropped a 6-2 decision to in-state foe Eastern Illinois. Amber Smith continued her strong offensive attack, however, leading the `Birds at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort.
ISU moves to 39-14-1 overall with the loss and Eastern Illinois improves to 22-28 on the year.
Smith's powerful hitting sparked the Illinois State offense in the top of the first, as she blasted a solo shot over the left field fence to give the `Birds a 1-0 lead. With a 2-2 count, Smith flied out to center field but the ball call called dead after starting EIU pitcher Kathleen Jacoby was cited for an illegal pitch. Smith retook the batter's box and just two pitches later, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the week hit her third home run in as many games and improved her 2007 total to 15, just three shy of the ISU single season record.
But Eastern Illinois' second baseman Sarah Coppert answered in the bottom half of the inning, opening the frame with a double to deep center field. Advancing to third on a wild pitch by ISU pitcher Stacy Birk, catcher Casey Gorrell attempted to pick Coppert off at third but the ball hit off Redbird third baseman Kara Nelson's cleat and rolled to shallow left field as Coppert crossed to tie the game. The uncharacteristic error was the first of the season for Gorrell. Birk settled down in the circle after the run and retired three straight Panther batters to end the inning. However, EIU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to give the Panthers a 3-1 advantage, when catcher Sandyn Short roped a two-RBI single up the middle.
The Redbirds scattered three hits in the next four innings and put multiple runners on the bases in the second, fourth and fifth innings but couldn't put any runners across as their scoring stalled. Eastern Illinois continued its offensive production, stringing together a Megan Nelson single and Coppert double to put runners on second and third. Illinois State was forced to switch pitchers at that point, bringing in fellow senior hurler Shannon Nicholson to relieve Birk.
Lauren Bracket then joined the pair to load the bases, reaching on a Nicholson throwing error to first base. Two consecutive outs by the Redbird defense looked to ease the threat but a single from first baseman Katy Steele plated two Panther runs. Relief pitcher Karyn Mackie then hit a ball that rolled through ISU first baseman Smith's legs and into right field. Smith was charged with a fielding error as Mackie took first and Chelsea Adams scored EIU's third run of the inning to give the host a 6-1 lead.
Birk drew a walk to open the top of the sixth and quickly advanced to second when Gorrell roped her first pitch to deep left center field for a double. Ensuing batter Kaprice Williams was credited with a sacrifice fly to left as Birk crossed and Gorrell took third. The run put the score at 6-2 in favor of Eastern Illinois but two quick outs ended the inning for the `Birds. A three-up, three-down top of the seventh for ISU resulted in the Panther win.
Birk suffered the loss in the circle, moving to 18-8 in 2007. The right-handed senior pitched four full innings, giving up six hits and five runs, though none were earned. She struck out four and scattered six hits.
Illinois State returns home this weekend, hosting Missouri State in the final regular-season weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play. The `Birds and the Bears will battle in a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday.
