Feb. 29, 2008
Final Stats
COLUMBUS, Ga. -
A sacrifice fly ball off the bat of junior pitcher/first baseman Amber Smith with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Illinois State softball team (7-9) its third-straight victory, as Smith and the Redbirds downed Winthrop (7-7), 3-2, in eight innings Friday afternoon at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Smith's sacrifice fly ball capped off a two-RBI day for the Fairfield, Calif., native, as she also hit her second home run of the season.
The Redbirds were also led offensively by Andrea Shifflet (1-for-2 with a run scored), Jessie Buker (1-for-3) and Kara Nelson (1-for-3), who reached base as the Redbird leadoff batter for the fourth-straight game.
Junior transfer pitcher Rachel Smith (2-1) picked up her second win of the season after she went in to pitch in relief of starter Amber Smith with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Rachel Smith pitched 3.2 innings of two-hit ball, and allowed two runs, both of which were charged to Amber Smith.
After she left the game with one out in the top of the fifth inning and holding a two-run lead (2-0), Redbird starting pitcher Amber Smith recorded a no-decision in 4.1 innings pitched. Pitching in her first game since Feb. 17 against Florida International (W, 8-1), Amber Smith had one of her best pitching outings of the season, as she allowed just three hits, two runs - both earned - and struck out four Winthrop batters.
The Eagles threatened to score in the top of the first inning, after Amber Smith gave up two-straight Winthrop singles and a walk to load the bases. She then regained her control to record her third strikeout of the inning, as she induced Mallory Hogan into swinging through a pitch.
Amber Smith then helped herself out at the plate in the bottom of the first inning with a home run deep over the left-centerfield fence. After fouling off five-straight pitches from Radford's Megan Evans, part of a 10-plus-pitch at-bat, Smith's patience at the plate paid off, as she hit her team-best second home run of the season to put ISU up, 1-0.
Junior catcher Casey Gorrell displayed some defensive prowess in the top of the third inning, as she picked off her second runner of the season when she threw behind Lenny Stoddart at first base.
A passed ball by Winthrop catcher Lauren Levin with Tiffany Prager at-bat allowed the Redbirds to pick up their second run of the game in the bottom of the third, as Shifflet scored from third after she reached base earlier in the inning on a single up the middle.
With Amber Smith out and Rachel Smith now in the circle for the Redbirds in the top of the fifth inning, Winthrop tied the game (2-2) on two-straight RBI singles to Levin and pinch hitter Katie Smith.
With the scored still tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Shifflet once again played a part in a Redbird rally. With center fielder Katie Mathis on second base via the international tie-breaker, Shifflet dropped down a perfectly-placed bunt just inches in front of home plate that advanced Mathis to third. ISU then loaded the bases, which brought Amber Smith to the plate to finish what she started, as she gave ISU its seventh victory of the season with a sacrifice fly ball to right field that scored Mathis.
Illinois State will return to action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic at 5:30 p.m. CST Friday when it takes on UNC-Charlotte.
