Feb. 20, 2011
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Junior pitcher Jordan Birch tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Illinois State softball team over Idaho State on the final day of the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Redbirds (7-2) completed the trip with a 3-1 record, dropping the only game of the weekend to No. 9/12 Arizona State.
Birch struck out the side twice in her five innings of work and tallied nine strikeouts, while walking only one. The lone Bengal hit came in the top of the second when Jessica Baca singled through the right side to lead off the inning.
Illinois State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as sophomore Elizabeth Kay blasted a two-run home run down the left field line that snuck just inside the foul pole to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead after one.
The Redbirds added three more in the third on a three-run home run by senior Abby Olson that cleared the Farrington Stadium scoreboard in left center. Olson's round tripper scored senior Kara Nelson, who led off the inning with a walk, and sophomore Lauren Kellar, who reached on an infield single. The inning continued after Kay was intentionally walked to load the bases for junior Caiti Kopp. Kopp coaxed a walk to bring in another run. Freshman Laura Canopy used a sacrifice fly to deep left center to bring in Kellar and redshirt freshman Nichelle Harrison capped the inning with an RBI single.
Illinois State's big inning came in the fourth, as the Redbirds plated five runs on four hits and took advantage of a pair of Idaho State miscues. Sophomore Jhavon Hamilton and Nelson led off the frame with back-to-back bunt singles, before Kellar delivered an RBI single back through the middle that scored Nelson from second. The big inning continued for Illinois State after Kay was intentionally walked to load the bases and junior Caiti Kopp coaxed a walk to bring another run across. Freshman Laura Canopy plated another run with a deep sacrifice fly to left center before redshirt freshman Nichelle Harrison capped the inning with an RBI single back through the middle.
Illinois State will travel to Tampa, Fla., next weekend for the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament hosted by the University of South Florida. The challenging non-conference schedule will continue for the Redbirds as they are slated to open the tournament with games against two nationally-ranked teams in Alabama and Missouri.
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