Feb. 16, 2008
Final Stats | Quotes 
MIAMI -
A Redbird offense that was hitting just .232 on the season, entering the game, nearly 40 points lower than its opponents, continued to struggle against some of the nation's best pitching, as the Illinois State softball team (3-6) managed just three hits in an 8-0, five-inning, run-rule loss to No. 18/19 Ohio State (7-1) Saturday afternoon at the Schutt Sports Invitational in Miami. ISU's three hits in the game were all recorded by different players - Tiffany Prager, Casey Gorrell and Andrea Shifflet - as the Redbirds were shutout for the second-straight game and the fourth time this season.
Prager was 1-for-3 on the day, as the senior captain improved her team-best batting average to .429 (12-for-28) on the season, while Shifflet (1-for-2) and Gorrell (1-for-2) rounded out ISU's offensive production in the game.
Sophomore Amy Mitchell (2-1) suffered her first-career loss for ISU after she pitched just three full innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks. Both Amber Smith and Chrissy Burton pitched in relief in the game, but no Redbird pitcher recorded a strikeout, the first time that has occurred this season.
Ohio State's offense had four hitters record at least two hits in the game. Tory Haddad led the attack with two hits in three at-bats and three RBI. The Buckeyes' pitcher, Lindsey Bodecker, was equally dominant, as she went the full five innings and allowed only three ISU hits while striking out five.
Ohio State got to Mitchell early, as the Buckeyes scored one run in the bottom of the first inning off an RBI single through the middle by Tory Haddad drove in Brittany Vanderink, who led off the game by reaching on a fielding error by Gorrell, who was playing third base for the first time this season.
Illinois State attempted to answer back in the top of the third inning after it utilized small-ball offensive tactics to place a runner on the third base with two outs. Sophomore Kara Nelson reached on a fielder's choice and then stole her second base of the day, which placed her on second. A groundout by Prager advanced Nelson to third with two outs, but the Redbirds could not capitalize, as Smith struck out to end the inning.
The Buckeyes forced Mitchell out of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after they loaded the bases with no outs to bring Smith in to pitch for the third time in two days. The Buckeyes broke the game open with five runs in the inning with a combination of three infield singles, timely ground balls and a sacrifice bunt.
The Redbirds had another opportunity to score in the top of the fifth inning after Nelson reached via her second-straight fielder's choice, and Gorrell and Shifflet both singled. The threat ended when Smith grounded out to second base, as ISU left its sixth runner on base in the game.
An error by Nelson at third base, her second in two days, led to Ohio State's first run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Buckeyes' then closed the game out when an RBI double by Haddad scored Brittany Vanderink from second base.
Illinois State will conclude its time at the Schutt Sports Invitational in Miami at 10:30 a.m. CST Sunday when it takes on tournament host Florida International at the University Park Softball Complex.
