Feb. 13, 2011
Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. -
ATHENS, Ga. - After strong pitching efforts propelled the Illinois State softball team to its first three wins, the Redbird offense came alive in ISU's 13-4 win over Iowa Sunday morning. Four Illinois State players recorded multiple hits in the 14-hit effort as the Redbirds wrapped up the opening weekend of the 2011 season with a 4-1 record at the Red and Black Showcase in Athens, Ga.
"I thought we came out swinging the bats very well, scored a run in the first inning and really kept it going," head coach Melinda Fischer said. "When Iowa came back an answered with a couple runs, we answered and came right back at them and that was what I was pleased with the most in this ballgame. We never stopped our offense and continued to generate offense and take advantage of opportunities."
For the fourth time in five games, ISU plated at least one run in the first inning. Sophomore Lauren Kellar slapped a one-out single to get the inning started and later came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of sophomore Elizabeth Kay to give the Redbirds an early 1-0 lead.
ISU added to their lead, scoring four runs in the top of the second, with two of them coming on a two-run home run by senior Abby Olson, her first of the season. Fellow senior Kara Nelson also plated a pair in the second, scoring Jhavon Hamilton and Sara Bradley on a double to left center.
Illinois State took a 6-0 lead on a solo blast from junior Liz Andrews in the top of the third, but the Hawkeyes would trim the Redbird advantage to 6-2 after scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.
"Lizzie stepped up big for us today," Fischer said. "She struck out looking in her first at bat, but after that she was determined that she was going to put the bat on the ball and put some great swings on some good pitches."
ISU responded with three runs in the fourth to push the advantage to 9-2 after taking advantage of a leadoff walk to Nelson and a fielding error that allowed Kellar to reach on a sacrifice bunt. Olson advanced the runners into scoring position after a groundout and Kay reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Nelson to score from third. Later in the inning, Andrews delivered a two-out single that scored Kellar and Kay for her third RBI of the ballgame.
Olson tacked on two more runs for the Redbirds in the fifth, using a one-out single back up the middle to score Nelson and Kellar and extend the Illinois State margin to 11-2.
Iowa would score two in the fifth and ISU two in the seventh on another two-out single from Andrews to bring the final score to 13-4.
Olson finished the contest 4-for-5 at the plate with 4 RBI and a pair of runs scored. Andrews led the Redbirds with 5 RBI, going 3-for-5 and scoring a run, while Kellar finished a perfect 3-for-3 and scored four runs. Nelson continued to produce from her leadoff position, collecting three more hits, a pair of runs and 2 RBI to finish the Red and Black Showcase with a .563 batting average after going 9-for-16 over the five-game stretch.
"We came into this weekend like it was an NCAA Regional and that was where we left off last year, at the Ann Arbor Regional," Fischer added. "We wanted to test the waters early with this team, because we feel that they have set some high goals and the only way to achieve those goals is to get off to a good start early and I feel with a schedule like this it will allow them to see where they are at right away."
Junior Jordan Birch earned the victory in the circle for ISU, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out four. Senior Chrissy Burton finished off the Hawkeyes, throwing the final 2.1 innings and striking out three without allowing an Iowa baserunner.
Illinois State outscored opponents 29-6 while in Athens, Ga., tallying nine doubles and five triples, and limiting opponents to a .160 batting average.
The Redbirds will travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Littlewood Classic next weekend, taking on Idaho State Friday at 3:30 p.m. CST. ISU is also slated to play Arizona State, Seattle and Iowa while in Tempe.
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