Feb. 17, 2008
Final Stats
MIAMI -
A day after recording just four hits over two games and being shut out twice, the Illinois State softball team (4-6) got its offensive mojo back Sunday, as shortstop Kaprice Williams and pitcher Amber Smith both hit home runs in an 8-1 victory over Florida International (3-7) at the Schutt Sports Invitational in Miami. With its offense hitting just .232 in the tournament entering the game, Redbird hitters busted out of their tournament-long slump with 11 hits in the game, as ISU snapped its season-long three-game losing streak.
Senior second baseman Tiffany Prager tied her career-high for hits and runs scored in a game, as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles and three runs scored. Smith also had three hits in the game (3-for-3) with three RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore first baseman Michelle Henderson was 2-for-4 with two RBI
Smith also had a stellar day in the circle, as the Fairfield, Calif., native recorded her second win of the season (2-4) in a complete-game, six-hit, one-earned run effort that included five strikeouts. Smith tied her career-high for fewest hits allowed in a game (six), while she set career-highs for fewest walks allowed in a complete game (two) and fewest earned runs allowed in a complete game (one).
"I thought we had a total-team effort (Sunday) against Florida International," Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer said. "We scored early and often, and we got seven innings out of Amber in the circle. This game was a huge improvement over everything that we have done so far this season.
"Amber pitched well (Sunday). She fought through hard points in the game. That was good to see because we needed to get more innings out of her. Her performance (Sunday) is what she is capable of doing all season."
Williams took advantage of a strong wind blowing out to left field to record ISU's first home run of the season in the top of the second inning, as she drove a Holly Satterfield offering just over the left field fence for a solo home run.
Smith's home run came in the top of the fourth inning, as ISU recorded its fourth-straight inning with at least one run scored in the game. After Prager led off the inning with her second single of the game, Smith stepped to the plate and drove a pitch deep over the center field fence, as ISU took a commanding 5-0 lead. Smith's home run marked the first time this season that Illinois State has scored at least one run in four-straight innings in a game.
Illinois State's powerful offensive lineup attacked early in the game with a single run in the top of the first inning. After the Redbirds loaded the bases off consecutive singles by Prager and Smith, along with a walk by left fielder Jessie Buker, Henderson recorded her first RBI of the season when she blooped a single into shallow right field that scored Prager. Despite still having the bases loaded with just one out, ISU was unable to produce another run, as catcher Casey Gorrell grounded into an inning-ending double play back to the Golden Panther third baseman.
Henderson picked up her second RBI of the game in the top of the third when she lined a single into right field that scored Smith from third base.
The Golden Panthers cut the Redbird lead down to four runs (5-1) with a solo home run by Kim Rodriguez in the bottom of the fourth inning over the left-center field fence. The home run was just the third homer given up by an ISU pitcher this season.
ISU broke the game wide open in the top of the sixth inning after an error by the FIU second baseman made way for three Redbird runs. Prager's third single of the game drove in Williams, who had reached earlier in the inning on the Golden Panther error at second base. A sacrifice fly by Smith to center field then brought home Nelson, and Buker's single to center field scored Prager, as all three ISU runs were unearned off the FIU error.
Illinois State will return to action Friday when it travels to Tempe, Ariz., to play in the Littlewood Classic, hosted by Arizona State. There, the Redbirds will take on Radford at 2:30 p.m. CST Friday, followed by an 8:30 p.m. CST matchup against Arizona State.
