March 29, 2008
Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson continued her hot hitting at the plate, with a 2-for-3, two-double batting performance, but it was not enough, as the Illinois State softball team (11-14, 1-4 MVC) lost its third-straight Missouri Valley Conference game Saturday afternoon in a 2-1 setback to Southern Illinois (17-5, 5-3 MVC) at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. The loss dropped the Redbirds to three-games-under-.500 for the first time since Feb. 19, 2006.
Nelson was joined by three other ISU batters that recorded a hit in the game, led by freshman designated player Abby Olson's RBI single in the sixth inning. Juniors Amber Smith and Kaprice Williams also picked up hits in the game, as each went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Junior Rachel Smith (3-3) recorded her second-straight loss in the circle after she allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5 2/3 innings pitched. Despite suffering the loss, the right-hander from Williamsville, Ill., continued to lead the Redbird pitching staff in fewest walks allowed per start, as her one free pass in the game puts her at a team-low 12 walks allowed this season.
Just as they did in their 2-1 loss to the Salukis in Saturday's first game, the Redbirds ran themselves out of a potential scoring opportunity in the top of the first inning. Nelson led off the game with a double and then advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by senior Tiffany Prager. One batter later, Nelson found herself caught in between bases on a ground ball off of the bat of Amber Smith that was hit back to the SIU third baseman, who eventually tagged Nelson out trying to score on the play.
Southern Illinois took advantage of a throwing error by Illinois State in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Katie Wilson led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second base on a ground ball back to Amber Smith at first base. Chelsea Held's RBI double into left-center field scored Wilson, but a cutoff throw by Smith to Prager at second base got kicked loose and rolled two-thirds of the way to the center field fence, which allowed Held to score from second.
The Salukis appeared to score their third run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after Lauren Haas led off the frame with a double and then advanced to third base to on a sacrifice bunt. One batter later, a fly ball off the bat of Jayme Wegman into deep left field should have scored Haas, but she was ruled out after Illinois State appealed the play and the umpires determined that she left third base early.
Illinois State cut Southern Illinois' lead in half (2-1) in the top of the sixth inning, thanks to three hits in the frame, the Redbirds' largest offensive inning thus far in the series. After Nelson was thrown out at home trying to score on a ground ball by Prager back to Haas at first base, a single by Amber Smith advanced Prager to second base. One batter later, ISU's main offensive producer from Saturday's first game, Olson, came through again in the clutch, as her single into left field scored Prager and put the Redbirds back into the game offensively.
Illinois State will try to avoid its first three-game Missouri Valley Conference series sweep since 2005 Sunday when it takes on Southern Illinois in the series finale from Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. First pitch is set for noon.
