April 18, 2009
Blog/Chat Recap
WICHITA, Kan. -
Amber Smith, the Missouri Valley Conference career home run record holder, has delivered at the plate for the Redbirds almost every time her team needed her. And in game two of Saturday's doubleheader split between the Illinois State softball team (19-21, 7-8 MVC) and Wichita State (17-26, 7-11 MVC), Smith broke ISU's 11-inning scoreless streak with a big three-run home run to propel Illinois State to a 4-0 game-two win at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kan. Wichita State held on for a 1-0 shutout of Illinois State in game one.
Smith's home run was her fifth of the season and gave her 44 in her four-year career. Smith has now scored 105 runs as a Redbird, which ties her with Betsy Youngquist (1994-97) for sixth-place all-time at Illinois State in career runs scored.
Smith finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game two with three RBI, a run scored and a walk. Shortstop Niki Stansell picked up ISU's first RBI of the day and was 2-for-4 in game two with a run scored, while right fielder Beth Current was 1-for-3 and scored a run.
Smith (6-10), who has suffered through two weeks' worth of tough losses with little run support, was again saddled for the loss for Illinois State after she pitched six innings and gave up one earned run on four hits. Despite giving up a season-high seven walks, Smith's lone run allowed came via a solo home run and was not the result of any walks given up.
Freshman Megan Warner was sharp for Illinois State in game two in what was just her third-career start and her first in conference action. Warner improved to 3-0 on the season after she pitched seven innings and gave up only three hits, while walking two and striking out six batters.
Kasha Kolb improved to 11-18 in the circle for Wichita State after she picked up the win in game one. Brianna Smet (5-7) was tagged with the loss in game two after she allowed three runs to score (all earned) in just 4 1/3 innings pitched.
RECAP: Wichita State 1, Illinois State 0 | Box Score
Wichita State got to Illinois State first with a solo home run off the bat of Heather Gerritse in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gerritse's home run was just the second hit of the game for the Shockers after both teams exchanged zeroes on the scoreboard through the first three innings.
With both sides looking to squeeze out any sort of run support in a tight pitching battle between Smith and Kolb, the Shockers were opportunistic with their offense, taking advantage of several of Smith's walks to place runners in scoring positions. Two of those instances came in the fourth and fifth innings, when Wichita State loaded the bases with less than two outs. Both times, though, Smith settled down to get out of the jam and keep the game within reach for ISU.
Illinois State's prime scoring opportunities came in the first and second inning after the Redbirds placed runners on first and second base in each frame. Sharp pitching by Kolb kept the Redbird offense at bay and secured the 1-0 win for Wichita State.
RECAP: Illinois State 4, Wichita State 0 | Box Score
Wichita State again looked primed to score in the bottom of the first inning in game two after the Shockers put runners on first and third base with one out in the inning. Warner settled down, though, and got out of the inning unscathed with a groundout and a strikeout.
After being shutout in the first game and suffering through four more innings of scoreless ball in game two, Illinois State exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth inning to even the series at one game apiece.
With both teams again locked in a pitcher's duel through the bottom of the fourth inning, Illinois State finally broke out of its scoring slump in the top of the fifth by delivering with runners in scoring position, something it struggled to do in game one. Stansell drove in ISU's first run of the game when she ripped an RBI single up the middle that scored Current.
Smith, who came to the plate in the top of the fifth inning and promptly faced her game-one pitching adversary, Kasha Kolb, broke the game open for Illinois State when she drove Kolb's first pitch in her relief outing deep over the left field fence for a three-run home run.
Illinois State will go for the series win against Wichita State when the two teams play the series finale at noon Sunday at Wilkins Stadium.
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