Feb. 23, 2008
Final Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. -
A two-run home run by senior right fielder Andrea Shifflet, the first of her one-plus-year ISU softball career, marked a dominant offensive display by the Illinois State softball team, as the Redbirds (5-9) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over Miami [Ohio] (3-6) at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday night. Seven of ISU's nine hitters in its lineup recorded at least one hit in the game.
Aside from Shifflet's two-run home run, sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson led the Redbird offense with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate that included one RBI, one run scored and a career-high-tying two walks. Freshman left fielder Jessica Roche recorded her first-career hit and RBI in the game, while senior catcher Jennifer Brown had another strong performance, both offensively and defensively, as she went 1-for-3 at the plate and threw out her second base runner of the day.
Junior Rachel Smith (1-1) picked up her first-career victory for ISU after she pitched seven full innings and allowed only one earned run on six hits. Smith struck out seven RedHawk batters and did not yield any walks.
"We hit well in this game with runners in scoring position," Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer said. "Rachel pitched a great game, and after struggling a little in the third inning, she regrouped herself to finish strong. Andrea had a great at-bat to get her home run. She's a battler; she works the count well and she got rewarded for it."
Shifflet's home run came in the bottom of the fifth inning after Brown led off the frame with a single through the middle of the diamond. Shifflet then stepped to the plate and took a Meredith Linch pitch deep over the center field fence to give Illinois State a four-run lead (5-1).
Roche gave ISU its first lead (1-0) in three games in the bottom of the second inning after she lined a ball over the Miami center fielder's head that scored pinch runner Vicki Klopf from first base. The run marked the first for ISU since it scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Radford Friday, a span of 16 innings. ISU added another run in the inning when Nelson walked with the bases loaded to score Roche.
The Redbirds threatened in the bottom of the first inning after Nelson led off the game with a single through the middle, to mark the second-straight game that she has recorded a leadoff hit. Nelson then stole second base and was sacrificed over to third by second baseman Tiffany Prager, as ISU set itself up for its first lead in three games. The lead wasn't to be, however, as a popup by Michelle Henderson and a groundout by Abby Olson stranded Nelson on third.
Miami came back in the top of the third inning for one run after it placed runners on first and third base with just one out via a bunt single from Kathryn Russette and a single down the left field line by Meghan Mawn. A single by Bre Robinson deep in the hole to Redbird shortstop Diciembre Vaca allowed Russette to score, as the RedHawks cut the ISU lead in half, 2-1.
Illinois State again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning, and this time, it was able to push the bases-loaded run across, as a groundball by Olson was booted by the RedHawk shortstop, which allowed Nelson to score, as ISU added an insurance run and went up, 3-1.
Illinois State will conclude its time in Arizona Sunday at noon CST when it takes on Buffalo in its fifth game of the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
