April 21, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's softball team (20-18, 10-6 MVC) held a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh and final inning against Creighton (36-13, 14-2 MVC) Monday, but two costly errors in the frame cost the Redbirds, as the Bluejays plated two runs, and secured a 3-2 win in game one of a doubleheader at the Redbird Softball Complex. Junior pitcher Amber Smith, making her second-consecutive start, suffered her first loss in the circle in the past 11-consecutive starting appearances.
Early stages of the game pointed toward another pitching duel, with Smith retiring nine-of Creighton's first 11 batters, and Bluejays' hurler Tara Oltman sitting down the first nine batters she faced.
But for the second-consecutive day, Illinois State surged with a go-ahead rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Kara Nelson started the flurry with a double down the left field line. After Smith fouled out, Jessie Buker gave the Redbirds a 2-0 lead with a deep home run to straight-away center field, scoring Nelson from first base.
Creighton rallied in the ensuing top of the fifth, plating one run and tallying five baserunners. Amanda Hess started the inning with a single up the middle, and Michelle Koch followed with a single to right center field, advancing pinch runner Jess Stigge into scoring position at second base. Stigge advanced to third one batter later, after a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Wakasugi. Laura Kratochvil followed with a pinch-hit single to center field, easily scoring Stigge. Koch attempted to tie the game at 2-2 after Jessi Jadlowski reached on a fielder's choice, but was thrown out by third base starter Abby Olson. Renae Sinkler struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Redbirds managed just one hit in the fifth and sixth frames, leaving Creighton within striking distance heading into the top of the seventh inning. Wakasugi started the stanza by reaching on a fielding error by Nelson, who had trouble transferring a routine ground ball from her glove to her throwing hand. Liz McKewon followed with a bunt single, giving the Bluejays two baserunners with no outs. Jessie Jadlowski hit into a double play in the ensuing at-bat, after she lined out to Smith, and McKewon was thrown out at first base after a quick throw.
But Bailey Dawson followed with a walk, and Sinkler kept the rally alive with an infield single to load the bases. TJ Eadus' ensuing ground ball to third base was mishandled by Olson, and Creighton scored two runs to take a 3-2 lead, the eventual game-winning advantage. Sinkler was thrown out on an unassisted play at third base to end the inning.
The win extended first place Creighton's winning streak to nine games.
