April 3, 2010
Final Stats
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Illinois State softball team swept Saturday's doubleheader against Northern Iowa at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. In the first game, ISU topped UNI, 11-9, and won the second game, 5-3. With the two wins, ISU swept the three-game series and won its seventh-straight game. The Redbirds are the only undefeated team remaining in Missouri Valley Conference play.
In Saturday's games, Abby Olson hit three home runs and drove in four Redbird (17-10, 5-0 MVC) runs. The Hartsburg, Ill., native held a batting average of .800 over the two games. Kara Nelson continued her strong performance at the plate Saturday recording a homer and four RBIs.
Jordan Birch grabbed the win in the first game improving her record to 7-5. Birch faced 31 batters and struck out six Panthers (16-14, 4-3 MVC). Megan Warner struck out four UNI batters and recorded her second win of the weekend improving her record to 8-4
Game One Recap: Illinois State 11, Northern Iowa 9
In the first inning, Jhavon Hamilton started the Redbird offense when she beat out a throw at first after laying down a slow-rolling bunt. One batter later, Olson sent a two-run shot over the left field fence that bounced off of the scoreboard. Elizabeth Kay tallied the first walk of the series to put another ISU runner on base. Michelle Henderson hit a hard line drive back to the pitcher, who made a leaping catch and got Kay out at first in the play.
The Redbirds continued their strong offensive performance in the second inning when ISU added two more runs to the scoreboard. Niki Stansell singled through the right side of the infield and advanced to second when Beth Current was hit by a pitch. Lauren Kellar walked to load the bases for Nelson, who hit a hard grounder back up the middle and drove in Stansell and Current. In the next play, the Panther defense retired two Redbird base runners to end the inning.
In the third, Illinois State sent two home runs out of the park and increased its lead over Northern Iowa by eight runs. Olson, who was the leadoff batter, hit her second shot of the day over the right field fence. Two batters later, Henderson hit a two-run homer over the center field wall and drove in Kay, who reached on a single down the left field base line.
Still in the third and with no outs, Stansell hit a deep shot to left field, but was robbed of the hit by Hannah Borschel. Current stepped in the batter's box and was walked by Jaye Hutcheson. Brianna Lizen singled through the left side and moved Current to second. Kellar hit a sacrifice fly to left field to push Current across for another Redbird run.
Northern Iowa got on the board in the bottom of the third with a five-run rally that started when Megan Machovec tripled to right center field and drove in Allison Galvin. Machovec crossed the plate on a single by Livi Abney. Eranne Daugharthy hit a three-run home run to cut ISU's lead to three.
Illinois State pushed more runs across in the fourth when UNI pitchers struggled to find the strike zone and walked in Olson for the ninth run of the game. The Redbirds left the bases loaded to end the inning.
ISU was held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, but got back on the board in the top of the seventh when Kara Nelson hit a line drive to center field and drove in Jessica Roche. Nelson scored on a single by Kay stretching ISU's lead by six runs.
The Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Redbirds' lead by two, but left the tying run on base to end the game.
Game Two Recap: Illinois State 5, Northern Iowa 3
Olson sent a homer out of the park in the first inning to give Illinois State a quick one-run lead. It was the third homer of the day for the junior third baseman.
In the third, with one out, Nelson was walked by Jen Larsen and moved to second on a single by Hamilton. Olson was intentionally walked and loaded the bases for Kay, who hit into a double play.
Henderson singled to the shortstop to start the fourth inning for the Redbirds. Stansell laid down the sacrifice bunt to move Roche, who was pinch running for Henderson, to second. Current grounded out to the second baseman to advance Roche to third. The junior scored on a passed ball by Courtney Dunker to give ISU a two-run lead.
Northern Iowa tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Daugharthy doubled to left center field and drove in two Panther runs.
In the fifth, two Illinois State homers gave ISU a three-run lead over UNI. Nelson sent a solo shot over the right field fence to give Illinois State a one-run advantage over the Panthers. With two outs, Kay sent a two-run homer over the right field fence.
Northern Iowa's Dunker hit a solo shot with no outs in the bottom of the seventh to cut ISU's lead to two. Illinois State would work out of the jam to end the inning and sweep the series.
Illinois State will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to take on Indiana State in a doubleheader Tuesday. The first game is slated to beginning 1 p.m. (CST).
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