March 7, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -
Fresh off a 4-1 finish at the prestigious National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. (Feb. 29-March 2), the Illinois State softball team (10-10) enters its first non-tournament series this weekend when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky., for a three-game set against Western Kentucky (9-8) Saturday and Sunday. Due to wintery conditions expected in the Bowling Green, Ky., area Saturday, the Redbirds and Hilltoppers will now play a single game Saturday beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader to conclude the series at noon Sunday.
"I thought that we played very well at the NFCA Leadoff Classic," Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer said. "Coming off that 4-1 record should give us some confidence. It seems that we have improved every weekend that we have played in our tournaments, and now heading into the Western Kentucky series, we're looking forward to some great games to play. Western Kentucky is a regional opponent and a very strong team that plays a great schedule. We need to get out on the field and continue to improve every time that we're out there."
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Western Kentucky, 5-2. The all-time series dates back to the 2001 season, when the Redbirds recorded a 4-2 win over the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Ky. All seven games in the all-time series have been played in Bowling Green.
After meeting six times over three-straight seasons (2004, 2005 and 2006), the Redbirds and Hilltoppers took a break from action last season. In 2006, the two teams split the series, as Western Kentucky won the first game, 3-1, March 11, 2006, while the Redbirds took victory in the second game of the series, 6-0, March 12, 2006.
Western Kentucky's only other win in the all-time series was a 3-0 shutout of Illinois State March 7, 2004.
Western Kentucky has started the season 9-8. The Hilltoppers won seven of their first 10 games, including victories over No. 25 Oregon State (3-2) and No. 15 Mississippi State (2-1; 4-2). WKU has struggled, however, in the last week, as the Hilltoppers lost five-straight games at the Eller Media Classic in Las Vegas, before picking up two victories Wednesday over Austin Peay (1-0; 8-0).
The Hilltoppers are currently led by Kelsey McCauley's .372 batting average, which includes a team-best-tying 16 hits, one triple and four RBI. As a team, Western Kentucky is batting .219, and has been outscored, 54-47, and outhit, 112-93, by opponents through its first 17 games.
Backed by the trio of NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team member Amber Smith, Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Abby Olson and senior captain Tiffany Prager, the Redbirds have gone from a team that was three-game-under-.500 (6-9) prior to last weekend, to a squad that now has a win over a ranked opponent on its resume (2-0 versus No. 23 North Carolina March 2), as well as wins in six of its last seven games.
Illinois State is led offensively by Smith, third baseman Kara Nelson and Prager, all of whom are hitting .300-or-better (.372, .361 and .345, respectively) on the season. As a team, the Redbirds are hitting .234 with eight home runs, four of which came over a span of three games at last weekend's NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
Smith also leads the Redbirds in the circle, where she owns a 4-4 record with a 2.38 ERA. She recorded her first-career shutout March 1 against Hofstra (2-0), while she also picked up the upset victory over then-No. 23 North Carolina March 2. ISU pitchers own a 2.92 team ERA, slightly above their opponents' ERA (2.62).
