April 10, 2009
DES MOINES -
Clutch RBIs by Niki Stansell and Beth Current led the Redbirds to a win in game two, while Amber Smith recorded a hard-luck three-hit loss in game ones, as the Illinois State softball team (18-17, 6-6 Missouri Valley Conference) split a Friday doubleheader against Drake (22-15, 7-3 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference action at Buel Field in Des Moines. Smith took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of game one before giving up the game-winning run in the ninth inning in Drake's 1-0 win, and then the Redbirds came back to win the nightcap, 3-2.
Illinois State's 3-2 win in game two marked the Redbirds' second road win of the season (not counting games at tournaments, which are considered "neutral-site games"). ISU's previous road win was a 14-2 victory over San Jose State March 10 in San Jose, Calif.
Amber Smith (6-8) was the hard-luck loser in game one after she held a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings. Smith pitched a career-high 8 2/3 innings and allowed just one run, but it was unearned due to an error, while giving up three hits and just two walks.
Freshman Jordan Birch improved to 10-7 in the circle for Illinois State after she picked up the complete-game win for the Redbirds in game two. Birch scattered two earned runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking only two batters.
After going hitless in five at-bats in game one, Stansell went 3-for-4 with a double in the nightcap. Current, who prior to Friday's games had yet to record a multiple-hit game in her ISU career, was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In game one, five different Redbird batters picked up a hit apiece.
RECAP: Drake 1, Illinois State 0 (9) | Box Score
With both teams locked in a scoreless battle through eight innings, Drake took advantage of an Illinois State fielding mistake and two clutch singles in the bottom of the ninth inning to score the game-winning run. After a ground ball went under Abby Olson's legs at third base with two outs, Drake's Torey Craddock singled into left field to put runners on first and second base. Two batters later, Erin Bly ended the game and secured the win for the Bulldogs when she lined a single into center field to score the only run of the game and give Drake a 1-0 lead in the series.
The nine-inning loss for Illinois State was its longest game played by innings since the Redbirds lost to Kansas, 4-3, in 10 innings Feb. 10, 2008.
Aside from hitting a batter in the bottom of the fifth inning and walking a batter in the sixth, Smith held a no-hitter through two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. That's when Bly - the eventual game-winning heroine for Drake - came to the plate and broke up Smith's no-hit bid with a line-drive single into the right-field gap.
While not quite as impressive as Smith's no-hit pitching effort through six innings, Drake's Jenna DeLong improved to 13-6 in the circle after she recorded the nine-inning shutout while scattering five hits and striking out 10.
The closest Illinois State came to scoring through the first seven innings of the game came during the bottom of the second inning when the Redbirds placed runners on second and third base with two outs. A ground out to third base ended the inning, as the Redbirds stranded eight runners on base through seven innings.
The Redbirds nearly scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. After Smith reached base on a fielding error, and Olson walked, a sacrifice-bunt attempt by Jessie Buker got Smith out at third base, but the Drake third baseman over-threw the ball at first base while trying to secure a double-play attempt, and ISU advanced runners to first and third base. Needing to produce a run after seven-plus scoreless innings, the Redbirds were unable to continue the rally after Katie Mathis popped up to second base to end the inning.
RECAP: Illinois State 3, Drake 2 | Box ScoreBox Score
In one inning of game two, the Redbirds accomplished what they were unable to do in nine innings of game one: score a run. A sacrifice fly ball by Smith with one out in the top of the first inning scored Niki Stansell from third base, as Illinois State took a 1-0 lead.
Just as quick as Illinois State had a lead, it lost the advantage. After Birch walked the first two batters on eight-straight balls, Elena Leon hit an RBI single into right field to tie the game, 1-1.
The game continued to go back-and-forth in the top of the second inning after Current's two-out double into right field with Diciembre Vaca on first base. The Drake right fielder threw the ball into third base to try to throw Vaca out, but her throw went into the Bulldogs' dugout, which allowed Vaca to score. One batter later, Stansell gave the Redbirds a two-run lead with an RBI single.
Drake got one of those two runs back in the bottom of the second inning when Kelsey Kahler hit a solo home run over the left field fence.
The Bulldogs looked to be in contention to tie or gain the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after they placed runners on first and third base with just one out. A suicide squeeze attempt went bad, however, as the ball was bunted straight up to Birch in the circle, who threw back to third base to double up the Bulldog runner and keep the Illinois State lead (3-2) intact.
Illinois State will look to go for the series win in Saturday's noon rubber match at Buel Field.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
