Feb. 24, 2008
Final Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. -
A 3-for-4 day at the plate by sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson, including her first home run of the season, keyed the Redbirds' best offensive output of the season, as the Illinois State softball team (6-9) run-ruled Buffalo (0-5), 10-0, Sunday afternoon at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Nelson was a double shy of hitting for the cycle and set a career high for RBI in a game with five.
Nelson produced her biggest hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning when she took a Sharon Barr pitch over the left-center field fence for her first home run of the season. The two-run home run was the fourth of Nelson's career and her first since April 21, 2007, versus Creighton.
Illinois State tied team highs for runs scored in an inning (eight), runs scored in a game (10) and triples in a game (one). Six of the Redbirds' starting nine hitters recorded at least one hit in the game. Freshman designated player Abby Olson also had a stellar game offensively, as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Chrissy Burton earned her first-career victory in the circle after she pitched a complete-game three-hitter and allowed just three walks. Burton allowed only six Buffalo hitters to reach base in the game, as her three hits allowed were the second-fewest allowed by an ISU pitcher this season.
"We played really well (Sunday)," Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer said. "We had a big inning (second inning), which we were due for. Kara had a great game and a great tournament. Defensively, she got stronger and stronger as the tournament progressed. She also held her own offensively.
"Chrissy pitched well in that she battled throughout the game and didn't walk a lot of players. She showed a lot of character by pitching so well after having pitched in three-straight days."
Just as she did in the Redbirds' Saturday night win (5-1) over Miami (Ohio), senior fielder Andrea Shifflet started a big ISU offensive rally in the top of the second inning, as she singled into right field to drive in the Redbirds' first run of the game. With the bases now loaded, Nelson stepped to the plate and drove her third triple of the season into the right-center field gap that cleared the bases, as ISU went up, 4-0. A ground ball back to the Bulls' third baseman by second baseman Tiffany Prager scored Nelson.
ISU continued to pour on the offense in the inning, as a single into left field by Olson plated Prager from second base. One batter later, shortstop Diciembre Vaca switched places on the base paths with Olson, as Vaca doubled into right field to score Olson. Senior catcher Jennifer Brown finished the Redbird scoring after she reached base for the second time in the inning with an RBI double down the left field line that scored Vaca from second, as ISU took a commanding 8-0 lead in the game.
Illinois State looked to be in position for a big inning in the top of the first after the Redbirds put runners on first and second with no outs. A line drive off the bat of first baseman Michelle Henderson was caught by the Buffalo centerfielder, who then threw to second base to double up Nelson, who was running on the play.
Illinois State will return to action Friday when it travels to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. ISU is set to take on Winthrop at 10 a.m. CST Friday in the first of five games it is slated to play at the Leadoff Classic.
POSTGAME NOTES | Illinois State 10, Buffalo 0 | Feb. 24, 2008
Not in the Box Score: ISU's eight runs scored in the top of the second inning were the most it has scored in a single inning this season. The previous season high for runs scored in an inning was four against Providence Feb. 15.
Redbirds at bat: Sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson continued her hot hitting at the Littlewood Classic, as she recorded her team-high third triple of the season in the top of the second inning. Nelson entered the game hitting a team-best .556 (5-for-9) with a .667 slugging percentage.
Illinois State improved to 2-0 all-time versus Buffalo. The Redbirds won the initial meeting between the two schools, 11-0 (5 innings), March 4, 2006.
The win marked the first shutout and run-rule victory of the season for Illinois State.
Senior second baseman Tiffany Prager started her 131st-consecutive game at second base, the longest consecutive games played streak on the team.
Sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson stole her fifth base of the season in the top of first inning, and for the third-straight game, and fifth time this season, she reached base as the ISU leadoff batter in the first inning of a game.
Nelson now leads the team in stolen bases with six on the season. Illinois State has stolen eight bases this season, more than half of what it stole in 2007 (13).
For the first time this season, Illinois State batted around in an inning, as 12 Redbirds came to bat in the top of the second inning.
Nelson's home run was the first for the Moline, Ill., native since April 21, 2007, against Creighton.
