March 8, 2009
Box Score
STANFORD, Calif. -
Two RBI singles by sophomore third baseman Abby Olson highlighted the Illinois State softball team's 10th win of the season during a 3-1 victory over UC-Davis Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic in Stanford, Calif.
Olson produced her clutch run-producing singles in the first and fifth innings, as she drove in two of the Redbirds' three runs scored in the game. Senior first baseman Amber Smith also led ISU at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Birch picked up her sixth-straight victory in the circle for Illinois State to improve to 6-3 on the season. Birch pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave and allowed one earned run on six hits, two walks and one strikeout.
Smith earned her first save of the season after she pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief of Birch and did not allow a single hit.
Just as it did during its 14-0 rout of Vermont Saturday night, Illinois State (10-8) started its scoring early against UC-Davis. The Redbirds plated two runs in the top of the first inning after they loaded the bases with no outs in the frame, and RBI singles by Olson and Katie Mathis drove in two Redbirds.
UC-Davis (10-9) countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the first after Aggie pitcher Alex Holmes singled through the middle to score Belinda Paine from third base.
UC-Davis threatened again in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Aggies placed runners at first and third base with just one out in the frame. But a line drive into right field was caught by Diciembre Vaca, and then ISU got out of the inning after Birch induced a fly out to center field to end the inning and keep the 2-1 Redbird lead intact.
Olson again came through in the clutch in the top of the fifth, as her second RBI single of the game scored pinch runner Carly Billings and padded ISU's lead with a 3-1 advantage.
Illinois State will conclude its seven-day, seven-game West Coast road trip with a doubleheader Tuesday at San Jose State. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CT.
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