March 31, 2010
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State softball team continued its offensive powerhouse performance with a two-game sweep over in-state rival Western Illinois Wednesday evening at the Marian Kneer Softball Stadium in Normal, Ill. In the first game, the Redbirds hit four home runs out of the ball park to defeat the Leathernecks, 9-2. Jordan Birch shut out Western Illinois in ISU's second victory, 6-0.
Kara Nelson scored four runs for the Redbirds, while Lauren Kellar drove in three runs. Four Redbird batters tallied three hits over the two games.
In the first game, Megan Warner improved her record to 6-4 after striking out five Leatherneck batters and allowing only one earned run. Birch started the second game and faced 26 batters. She struck out four in her shutout performance and improved her record to 6-5 with the win.
Recap Game One: Illinois State 9, Western Illinois 2
The Redbirds had another strong offensive performance in their first game against the Leathernecks. ISU sent four homers as it defeated WIU, 9-2.
Illinois State jumped ahead of Western Illinois early in the first game Wednesday evening. In the second inning, Niki Stansell singled to left field to lead things off for the Redbirds. Two batters later, Shelby Music sent a two-run homer over the left field fence and drove in the first Redbird runs of the game. Still in the second, Nelson stepped into the batter's box and hit a solo shot over the left center field wall. ISU scored three runs on three hits to end the inning.
Western Illinois scored one run in the top of the fourth when Lori Pankratz scored on a single up the middle by Ashley Campbell. The Leathernecks left three runners on base to end the inning.
The Redbirds scored five runs on five hits in the bottom half of the fourth inning to increase their lead to seven runs. Music singled up the middle to start the Redbird rally and was driven in on a two-run home run by Kellar, which is the second of her career. Nelson, who was walked by Kelsey Michelini, and scored on a single up the middle by Abby Olson, who advanced to second on the throw.
Still in the fourth, Olson was driven in on a double to left center field by Elizabeth Kay. Michelle Henderson hit a double that landed just fair down the left field line and pushed Kay across for the fifth Redbird run of the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Western Illinois' Beth Golitko doubled to right center and crossed the plate on a single up the middle by Pankratz.
Olson hit her 10th homer of the season with a deep shot over the left field fence to give the Redbirds a seven-run lead in the bottom of the sixth.
It was the first time in the 2010 season that Western Illinois allowed six or more runs. ISU's 10 hits against WIU were the most allowed hits by an opponent for the Leathernecks.
Recap Game Two: Illinois State 6, Western Illinois 0
The Redbirds got on the board in the first inning when Hamilton doubled to right center field and was driven in on a single to right center by Kay.
The Redbirds continued to be an offensive powerhouse in the second inning when ISU scored three runs on four hits. Beth Current was scored on a single by Kellar. Hamilton hit a deep shot off of the right field wall for a triple that drove in Kellar and Nelson.
In the fourth, Hamilton recorded her third hit of the game with a single to the left side of the field and drove in Nelson. The sixth Redbird run came when Hamilton crossed the plate on an error by the Leathernecks.
Illinois State will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa for its first Missouri Valley Conference road game against Northern Iowa. The three-game series will be played Friday-Saturday with the first pitch slated for noon.
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