Feb. 26, 2010
Final Stats
COLUMBUS, Ga. -
Abby Olson hit two homeruns and led the Illinois State softball team to two victories in the first day of play at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic Friday. The Redbirds defeated North Carolina State, 10-0, before knocking off Auburn in nine innings, 5-4, in Columbus, Ga., at the South Commons Complex. Olson hit a grand slam against the Wolfpack and a two-run shot against the Tigers.
In the first game, Illinois State and North Carolina State were scoreless until the Redbirds scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jhavon Hamilton started the 10-run rally when she singled on a slow-rolling bunt down the third base line. Olson doubled up the middle to score Hamilton for the first Redbird run. Elizabeth Kay reached first on an error by NC State's Stephanie Call before four-straight Redbirds were walked. Kara Nelson singled to right field and drove in Niki Stansell and Beth Current.
Still in the bottom of the fourth, with one out and the bases loaded, Olson stepped in the batter's box for the second time in the inning and hit a grand slam over the left field fence. The Redbirds would end the inning with 10 runs on four hits.
ISU held NC State scoreless in the top of the fifth to end the game in five innings and grab the win.
Megan Warner started in the circle and took the win, while recording three strikeouts and two hits.
In the second game of the day, the Redbirds got on the board first when Lauren Kellar recorded her first-collegiate hit in the top of the fourth that drove in Jessica Roche, who was pinch running for Michelle Henderson.
Auburn would answer back in the bottom of the fourth when Kelley Smiley reached first on an error and crossed the plate after a two-run shot over the left field fence by Kyndall White.
"In the Auburn game, I thought we had a hard time adjusting to the different pitchers," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "From a left-handed pitcher to a right-handed thrower, was a tough transition for us. The righty threw a little harder and was able to keep us off balance. Abby did a great job of adjusting and getting a pitch that she could drive. It was a great at bat."
In the top of the seventh, with two outs, Auburn's Smiley dropped a fly ball by Niki Stansell that allowed Nelson to score to tie the game at 2-2. Auburn was not able to add a run in the bottom of the seventh pushing the game into extra innings where the international tiebreaker rule was enforced.
Due to the tiebreaker rules, Stansell began the eighth inning on second base and advanced to third on a hit by Current. Nelson singled up the middle and drove in Stansell to give the Redbirds a one-run lead. However, Auburn's Lindsey Harrelson crossed the plate on a Redbird throwing error to tie the game again.
"Kara really settled into the batter's and drove the pitch up the middle," said Fischer. "Her performance showed a lot of character. She takes a lot of pride in her offense, and I felt that she was really successful and committed to being successful in that at bat."
Heading into the top of the ninth, Hamilton was put on second. With no outs, Olson stepped up to the plate and hit her second homer of the day. The hit marked Olson's fourth homerun of the season. ISU scored two runs on two hits and went up by two runs, which was its largest lead of the game.
However, Auburn was not going down without a fight. Amber Harrison hit a double that drove in another Tiger run shrinking the Redbirds lead to one. With no outs and Tiger runners in scoring position, the Redbirds recorded three-straight outs including a double play to end the game.
Jordan Birch struck out five Auburn batters and allowed only five hits in nine innings. The Auburn game marked the third extra inning game for Illinois State this season.
The Redbirds will return to the field Saturday afternoon as they take on Radford (3 p.m. CST) followed by No. 20/24 UMass (5:30 p.m.) during the second day of play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
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