March 19, 2011
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State pushed three runs across in both of Saturday's games, as the Illinois State softball team completed the doubleheader sweep over Bradley at Marian Kneer Softball Stadium in the Redbirds' first day of Missouri Valley Conference play in the 2011 season. In the first game, ISU defeated Bradley, 3-2, and bested the Braves, 3-1, in the second contest.
Lauren Kellar had a solid day at the plate, as she recorded four hits and scored three runs for the `Birds. Liz Andrews had three hits on the day and crossed the plate twice for ISU, while both of Abby Olson's hits came on standup doubles. Elizabeth Kay came around in the second game of the day, as she tallied two hits.
In the circle, Megan Warner grabbed the win in the first game and improved her record to 6-4. Warner struck out five BU hitters and scattered six hits in the complete-game victory. Jordan Birch tied a season-high with nine strikeouts in the second game and improved to 6-1 on the year, after earning the victory inside the circle.
Game One Recap: Illinois State 3, Bradley 2
Bradley's (7-20, 0-2 MVC) Brittany Fairbairn singled to start the game and advanced to third on a pair of singles by Jackie Roth and Madeline Lynch-Crumrine, and a throwing error by Warner allowed Fairbairn to score and give the Braves an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After loading the bases with two outs, Warner battled back and struck out Alex Chandler to get out of the jam.
Andrews walked to start the bottom of the second and moved up to second on a sacrifice hit by Kay. Nichelle Harrison connected and sent a single up the middle of the field and grabbed the RBI, as Andrews crossed home plate to tie the game, 1-1. ISU (15-10, 2-0 MVC) could not take the lead, as it left two runners stranded on base to end the second.
Illinois State kept its offense going into the bottom of the third, as Kellar singled with a bunt down the third base line. With one out, Olson hit a standup double advancing Kellar to third on the play. After scoring in the second, Andrews stepped into the batter's box and recorded a single that drove in Kellar to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Sara Bradley singled through the left side and was replaced by pinch runner Kolby Hoffman at first. Hoffman showed why she was put on first, as she successfully stole second and moved into scoring position for Harrison. A BU error allowed Hoffman to score from second and give Illinois State a two-run lead, 3-1.
The Braves threatened in the top of the seventh, as they scored a run to cut the Redbirds' lead to one at 3-2, but Bradley was not able to push anymore runs across, as ISU won its first Valley contest of the 2011 season.
Game Two Recap: Illinois State 3, Bradley 1
Illinois State jumped ahead of Bradley early in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, as Kellar singled up the middle and quickly scored on a double that bounced off of the center field wall by Olson, but ISU would not be able to get Olson across home plate and ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.
Kellar recorded her second-straight single and advanced to second on a Bradley error. Andrews hit a single up the right field line, as Kellar used her speed to score from first. Andrews advanced to third, while Canopy, who reached base after being walked, moved to second on a Kay single through the left side. Caiti Kopp hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field and recorded the RBI after Andrews tagged from third to give ISU a 3-0 lead.
Bradley threatened in the top of the fourth and sixth innings with runners on second and third, but the Redbirds fought their way out of both innings and maintained their three-run lead.
Down by three in the top of the seventh, the Braves were not going to give up easily. Julie Sherman singled to deep right center field and drove in Chandler, but the Redbirds were able to get out of the inning and win the game, 3-1.
Illinois State will return to the field for the final game of the series against Bradley. The first pitch is scheduled for Noon.
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