April 26, 2008
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Backed by home runs from juniors Jessie Buker and Casey Gorrell, along with a one-hitter from junior pitcher Amber Smith, the Illinois State softball team (23-18 overall, 13-6 Missouri Valley Conference) run-ruled visiting Drake, 8-0, in five innings in game one of the Redbirds-Bulldogs doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Redbird Softball Complex. The win marked the Redbirds' third-straight run-rule victory over a Valley opponent, after Illinois State blanked Creighton, 9-0, Monday in six innings and took down Indiana State, 10-2, in six innings Wednesday.
Buker continued to hit at a torrid pace, as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Buker's two hits marked the third-straight multiple-hit game for the Macon, Ill., native. Junior center fielder Katie Mathis also had a stellar game at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 with a double and a career-high-tying three RBI.
Smith (12-6) recorded her 12th win of the year and her fourth-straight complete game in the circle for ISU, as she allowed just four Drake batters to reach base on one hit and one walk. Smith's one-hit pitching performance does not count as an official one-hitter for the Fairfield, Calif., native, as she did not pitch a full seven innings.
Drake starting pitcher Brynne Dordel (15-9), who owned The Valley's third-best earned-run average (ERA) entering the game at 1.66, was roughed up for six runs (three earned) on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Illinois State looked primed to score in the bottom of the first inning, as Smith reached via a fielding error on the Drake third baseman and Buker singled into right field, which placed runners on first and second with just one out in the frame. The Redbird offensive rally ended on the ensuing play, however, as first baseman Michelle Henderson struck out and then Smith was thrown out while trying to advance to third base when the pitch got loose from the Drake catcher.
One inning later, Gorrell produced a one-out solo home run over the left-center field fence, which gave ISU a 1-0 lead. Gorrell's home run was her third of the season and her first since March 21 at Missouri State.
The Redbirds broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning, as they scored five runs in the frame on four hits. Sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson started the ISU offense with a leadoff triple and then scored on the play when the Drake right fielder overthrew the cutoff to the Bulldog third baseman. Two batters later, Buker took the first pitch that she saw from Dordel and hit it deep over the left field fence for a solo home run - her team-high-tying sixth of the season - that gave ISU a 3-0 advantage.
Later in the third, junior shortstop Kaprice Williams doubled down the left field line with two outs, which scored freshman designated player Abby Olson, who reach base on a walk. One batter later, Mathis produced two more runs for the Redbirds when her single down the left field line that scored both Gorrell and Williams.
Drake broke up Smith's no-hit bid with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, as designated player Erin Mollohan sneaked a double down the left field line.
Illinois State added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when a sacrifice fly ball by Williams scored Olson, after she led off the inning with a double. The game ended one batter later, as Mathis roped a double into the left-center field gap that scored Williams and gave the Redbirds a five-inning, run-rule victory over the Bulldogs.
