April 19, 2008
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
It was Wichita State who had the last inning heroics in the second game of the doubleheader against Illinois State. The Shockers (28-20, 10-9 MVC) scored two runs in the seventh inning to beat the Redbirds (19-17, 9-5 MVC), 4-3, and earn a split in the doubleheader Saturday, April 19. The game was tied from the third inning until the Redbirds pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth, but the Shockers scored two runs with two outs in the seventh for the win. The loss snapped ISU's MVC winning streak at eight games and was the `Birds' fourth loss to the Shockers in the last six meetings.
Jessie Buker and Amber Smith were each 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI. Buker hit her fourth home run of the season and Smith recorded her third RBI of the doubleheader. Katie Mathis also drove in a run for the Redbirds. Rachel Smith took the loss for ISU, dropping her record to 8-7 on the season. She allowed all four runs, all earned, gave up eight hits and struck out three.
Jessica Spencer led the Wichita State offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including the game-winning two-run double in the seventh inning. Lauren Coleman provided the other two Shocker runs with a two-run home run and she walked twice. Brianna Smet picked up the win with a six-inning outing.
The Redbirds kept their offensive momentum from the end of the first game going in the first inning of game two. Nelson led off the game with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Smet. Smith then roped a double to the gap in right center to score Nelson and put the Redbirds on top early, 1-0. Buker singled to put runners on first and third with no outs and advanced to second on a groundout by Michelle Henderson. Diciembre Vaca followed with a groundball to short and Britnee Barnett threw Smith out trying to score from third.
The Redbird lead did not last long as Wichita State came up with two runs in the top of the second inning. Barnett hit a double off of the base of the wall in right field and Coleman blasted a home run to left field to put the Shockers ahead for the first time, 2-1.
Smith nearly broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning when she hit a hard line drive to centerfield that hit the very top of the wall. Kiersten Dixon fielded the carom cleanly and threw Smith out at second as she tried to stretch the hit into a double.
ISU threatened again in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second with just one out. Kaprice Williams hit a hard ground ball between second and third that Barnett made a nice backhanded stop on to got the force out at third. Mathis then came up with two outs and slashed a line drive single down the right field line. Lindsie Mitts came up throwing on the play and put the ball right on the plate, but Carly Billings, who was pinch running for Abby Olson, slid around the tag and snuck her hand in over the back portion of home plate to give ISU the lead, 3-2.
For the second time in the game, Wichita State came right back to take the lead in the following half inning. Back-to-back one-out singles put the go-ahead run on base for the Shockers. Rachel Smith then struck out the next batter on three-straight pitches, but hit the following batter in the arm with the first pitch to load the bases. Spencer then ripped a 2-2 pitch into the cap in right field to score 2 runs and put Wichita State back on top, 4-3.
Ashly Bright, who ranks second in the nation in saves with six, came in to pitch the seventh inning. She faced the middle of the Redbird lineup and set them down in order with a pop out by Amber Smith, a groundout by Buker and a strikeout by Michelle Henderson to earn the save.
The rubber match of the series is set for Sunday, April 20, at noon at the Redbird Softball Complex.
