May 2, 2009
Final Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
A two-RBI double by Beth Current gave the Redbirds the win in game one, but costly errors in the second game, led the Illinois State softball team (23-25, 11-11 MVC) to split game two with Evansville (14-33, 4-18 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Cooper Stadium. Illinois State won game one, 5-2, but fell in the nightcap to the Purple Aces with a, 9-8, loss in game two.
"I think that both games were good games," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "Both teams fought hard and had key hits. Both Megan Warner and Amber Smith did a good job giving us as much as they had today.
"I think the most disappointing thing is that we let the lead go in the second game. We really stress not letting the lead go, but we just couldn't hold on. We will have to be strong tomorrow and be better prepared from a hitting and pitching standpoint."
The Illinois State softball team was forced into extra innings in both the first and second game. The Redbirds went 10 innings for the first time this season, against the Aces in game one and finished game two in eight innings.
Freshman pitcher Megan Warner was credited with the Redbirds' win in game one for five innings of work. Michelle Henderson went 2-for-3 at the plate and had 20 putouts en route to the Redbirds' win in the first game.
Casey Gorrell was the star hitter in game two after she went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a big home run in the fourth inning.
In the first game, a wacky play by Evansville's defense in the 10th inning allowed three Redbirds to score and close out the first of two games with a 5-2 win over the Purple Aces. With the score tied, 2-2, entering the top of the 10th inning, ISU was able to get Henderson and Warner on base. Current hit a double, allowing Henderson and Warner to touch home plate. Current, then made it home off a wild throw from UE's shortstop Amanda Ockomon.
Leadoff hitter Niki Stansell got the Redbird offense going with a solo home run over the centerfield fence to give ISU an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Two innings later, Henderson doubled and was sent home by Kaprice Williams, who hit a fly ball out to centerfield, sending her to second base.
Evansville, knotted the score at two in the sixth inning. Pitcher Amber Smith loaded the bases before being relieved by Megan Warner after taking a ball to the shin from UE's Kylie Wagner. Warner entered the circle and allowed Ockomon to single sending Jennifer Stahlhut and Kristen Shirk across the plate, the only runs she would allow the rest of the game.
In the second game, Evansville wasted little time getting on the board in the second inning as Jamie Lindauer picked up an RBI advancing Allison Aguilera home.
The Redbirds retaliated in the next two innings, earning eight runs with homeruns off the bats of Abby Olson and Casey Gorrell giving ISU an 8-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Evansville went on an unanswered 8-0 run from the fourth inning on, giving the Aces the win. The Redbirds threatened to score in the 8th inning with a leadoff walk by Current, a sacrifice bunt by Stansell, and a subsequent walk to Gorrell but could not plate a Redbird baserunner. The Aces capitalized on a leadoff walk to Wagner and a one-out double by Ockomon to score the winning run on a single to right field.
Illinois State will be back in action at noon Sunday when it takes on Evansville in the series finale at Cooper Stadium.
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