April 12, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO -
After falling behind 6-0 in the first two innings, the Illinois State softball team rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning, but it would not be enough as DePaul held off the Redbirds, 10-6, Tuesday evening at Cacciatore Stadium in Chicago.
ISU (23-13) and DePaul (24-11) combined for 21 hits and left 19 runners on the base paths. Illinois State stranded eight in scoring position and relied on three home runs for its six runs in the slugfest.
The Blue Demons took advantage of a walk and error to score a pair of runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first and tacked on four more in the bottom of the second off junior starter Megan Warner. Warner lasted just 1.2 innings after walking four batters and allowing six runs, five of them earned, on three hits. Freshman Taylor Baxter got the call from the bullpen and limited the damage as the Redbirds began to claw their way back into the ballgame.
Senior Kara Nelson let off the top of the third with a solo shot to right center to trim the Blue Demon advantage to 6-1. The homer was the first of the year for the senior second baseman and extending her hitting streak to 13 games.
DePaul pushed its lead back to 7-1 in its half of the fourth on an RBI single from Lynsey Ciezki, but the Redbirds would come roaring back with a five-run sixth inning to narrow the gap to 7-6.
Sophomore Jhavon Hamilton led off the frame with a single and came around to score on senior Abby Olson's two-run home run to right center. The long ball was Olson's eight of the season and ties her for the team lead with sophomore Elizabeth Kay. Kay followed with a walk and junior Liz Andrews was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with just one away. Junior Caiti Kopp then cleared the bases with a three-run homer over the left field wall to bring Illinois State within one.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, DePaul's Megan Coronado delivered a three-run, pinch hit blast of her own to swing the momentum back into the Blue Demon dugout and seal the victory. Bree Brown, who relieved DePaul starter Kirsten Verdun in the bottom of the sixth, struck out all four batters that she faced to earn the save.
The loss dropped Warner to 9-6 on the season and marked the end of the non-conference slate for Illinois State. The Redbirds will return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend when they travel to Evansville for a three-game set with the Purple Aces beginning at 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
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