March 17, 2009
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior Amber Smith delivered a three-run home run - her 42nd in her four-year career - that gave the Redbirds a much-needed boost, but a seven-run third inning by Illinois (14-7) was too much for the Illinois State softball team (13-11) to overcome in an 11-3 defeat against the Fighting Illini in five innings during the Redbirds' home-opener Tuesday at Marian Kneer Softball Stadium.
The game was played as part of the "Go to Bat for Cancer" initiative, a collaboration between the Illinois State Athletics Department, the American Cancer Society's "Coaches vs. Cancer" initiative and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The event was held to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Illinois State wore pink jerseys during the game, while Illinois wore pink stirrups.
Jeannie Lizen, a breast cancer survivor and mother of Illinois State freshman catcher Brianna Lizen, threw out the first pitch to begin the day's ceremonies.
Smith led all Redbird batters with three RBI and a run scored off her lone hit of the game. Junior shortstop Niki Stansell was 2-for-3 with a run scored, as well.
Illinois' Katrina Ross delivered a grand slam and an RBI single to lead the Fighting Illini with five RBI.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Birch's seven-game winning streak came to an end in the Illinois State loss, as Birch (7-4) pitched just two complete innings and allowed three earned runs on hits.
Fighting Illini starting pitcher Monica Perry (10-5) picked up the win while throwing a complete-game five-hitter.
Illinois State's defense kept Illinois from scoring in the top of the first. After the Fighting Illini placed runners on first and second with just one out, Redbird center fielder Katie Mathis threw home on a single up the middle by Lana Armstrong to nail Illinois' leading runner trying to score from second base. Armstrong then got caught up in a rundown between first and second and was eventually tagged out near second base to end the inning.
Illinois' offense kept up the battle against the Redbirds into the top of the third, as the Fighting Illini placed two runners on base with no outs before Hope Howell lined a Birch pitch that just curved over the center-field fence for a three-run home run.
The Fighting Illini then broke the game wide open with two outs in the third, as Illinois loaded the bases off relief pitcher Megan Warner before Ross delivered her decisive grand slam over the left-center field fence to put Illinois up, 7-0. Ross' grand slam was her first base hit with runners in scoring position this season and also marked the first grand slam hit off Illinois State in 2009.
Smith returned the favor to Illinois in the bottom half of the third, as she delivered a line-drive, three-run home run over the right-field fence that cut the Fighting Illini lead to 7-3.
A bases-loaded wild pitch by Warner in the top of the fourth forced in another Illinois run and also forced Warner out of the game, as sophomore Chrissy Burton came on to pitch in relief for the Redbirds. The Fighting Illini offensive onslaught continued, as a sacrifice fly ball, a walk and a single up the middle drove in three more runs and gave Illinois its 11-3 win.
Illinois State will resume Missouri Valley Conference action when it travels to Omaha, Neb., Saturday and Sunday for a three-game conference series against Creighton. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is slated for noon.
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