March 4, 2011
Box Score
ORLANDO, Fla. -
Illinois State senior second baseman Kara Nelson finished 3-for-5 in the Redbirds' opening game victory over Maryland to become ISU's all-time hits leader, surpassing former All-American Priscilla Welch. The Redbirds (10-6) topped the Terrapins, 9-7, before dropping the second game, 2-1, to Fordham at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla.
Maryland took an early 3-0 lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Lauren Ghent and added two more in the third on Bree Hanafin's two-run home run to left field.
Illinois State tied the score in its half of the third, after Nelson singled to left and came around to score on an RBI double from sophomore Lauren Kellar. Sophomore Elizabeth Kay then drove in Kellar on a two-run blast to center field, her third long ball of the season, to swing momentum into the Redbird dugout.
Nelson's record-breaking hit came in the top of the sixth, giving ISU its first lead of the ballgame at 5-3. Redshirt freshman Sara Bradley coaxed a one-out walk and advanced to second on a bunt single from fellow redshirt freshman Nichelle Harrison. Nelson followed with her 248th career hit, a single back up the middle that plated both runners.
The Terrapins trimmed the Illinois State to 5-4 in the bottom of the frame, but the Redbirds responded with four runs in the top of the seventh to give starter Jordan Birch a five-run cushion entering the bottom of the seventh. Senior Abby Olson led off the inning with a solo home run to left center and Kay, junior Liz Andrews, and freshman Laura Canopy followed with three-straight hits to tack on another run. Harrison tallied an RBI on an infield single and Canopy later scored on wild pitch to push the ISU margin to 9-4.
However, Maryland would not go quietly. Vangie Galindo beat an out infield single and Hanafin hit her second home run of the game to cut the Illinois State lead to 9-6. Senior Chrissy Burton then came out of the bullpen to finish off the Terrapins. Burton allowed two hits and an unearned run in her 0.2 innings, but was able to end the game on a strikeout and get out of a jam with the tying runner on first base to end the game.
With the win, Birch improved to 3-1 on the season inside the circle, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits, while striking out four in her 6.1 innings of work.
In game two, the Redbirds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Olson's solo shot in the bottom of the first, but Fordham's All-American pitcher Jen Mineau would allow only one more Illinois State hit over the next six innings.
Junior pitcher Megan Warner was on the losing end of the pitcher's duel, allowing just two earned runs, both in the top of the third and scattering four hits, while striking out five in the complete game effort.
Nelson had the only other hit for ISU to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but ideas of an Illinois State rally were quickly halted when Kellar popped up a bunt to Mineau that she caught and quickly fired over to first base to double off Nelson.
The Redbirds will return to the field tomorrow and are slated to play Virginia and Temple beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST. ISU defeated Temple, 6-1, last weekend at the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament behind a one-hitter from Warner.
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