May 21, 2010
Final Stats
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - After seven innings of scoreless softball, the Illinois State (32-19) softball team fell to Notre Dame (46-10), 1-0, in the eighth inning of the Redbirds' first game in the 2010 NCAA Division I Regionals at Alumni Field on Michigan's campus Friday afternoon.
Beth Current led the Redbird offense as she was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, which was her fourth of the season. Niki Stansell also hit a double to right center field. Notre Dame's Christine Lux tallied two doubles and was also 3-for-4 in the batter's box. Illinois State tallied nine hits, while Notre Dame recorded seven. ISU left nine runners on base, which was one less than ND's 10.
In the circle, Megan Warner struck out four Notre Dame batters and allowed seven hits. Warner's record moved to 15-10 in the extra inning loss. Notre Dame's Jody Vadivia struck out eight Redbird batters.
In the third, Jhavon Hamilton hit a single to shallow center field and advanced to second on a grounder to the left side of the infield by Stansell. Abby Olson stepped into the batter's box with two outs and hit a deep shot to right field that was caught by Brianna Jorgensborg on the warning track.
Valdivia walked Michelle Henderson in the fourth to put one on with one out. Henderson quickly moved to third on a double down the left field line by Current. Jessica Roche hit a hard line drive to Heather Johnson, who turned a double play to end the inning.
Hamilton reached first on a bunt single and moved over to second on an infield single by Kara Nelson in the fifth. With two outs, Olson was intentionally walked to load the bases for the Redbirds, but Notre Dame would get the third out before Illinois State could push a run across.
A double off of the center field wall by Lux and a single by Jorgensborg put runners of the corners for the Irish in the bottom of the sixth, but the Redbirds worked out of the jam and moved into the seventh without a score.
Notre Dame's Kristina Wright was walked in the bottom of the seventh and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Dani Miller. The Fighting Irish would not be able to score forcing the game into extra innings.
In Notre Dame's half of the eighth, Johnson hit a single off of the right field wall. Amy Buntin pinch ran for Johnson and reached third on a single to right field by Lux. With one out, Lux moved to second on a grounder by Jorgensborg followed by Alexa Maldonado, who reached on a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded and one out, Buntin was forced out at home on a grounder by Alexia Clay. ISU tried to turn a double play at first, but the throw was high and Lux beat the throw back home to score the game winning run.
Illinois State will return to Alumni Field Saturday afternoon to face the loser of the Michigan-Wright State game. The first pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. (CST).
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