TAMPA, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team (0-1) battled in its season opener at USF (0-1), ultimately falling 2-1 in a hard-fought pitcher's duel. Sophomore Andrea Coursey drilled her second career home run at the top of the second inning to level the score at one-all, before the Bulls responded in the home half of the inning.
CATCHING UP WITH COACH FISCHER
Overall thoughts on the game…
"Tonight was the same typical game we've always had with USF. It's usually a tight ball game, goes back-and-forth, and it's usually a one-run difference. I thought both Shannon (Felde) and Morgan (Day) did a great job in the circle."
On getting an opportunity to play all five freshmen…
"I just think they all learned a lot tonight. You can practice all you want, and you can go against your own pitching staff, but to actually get outside and go against somebody else – the game becomes more realistic. I thought we made some good adjustments to things we haven't been able to work on inside, and I was really proud of them for doing that."
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Four freshmen – Emme Olson, Ellie Weltha, Mack Leonard and Michele Calabrese – earned their first collegiate starts tonight, while the Redbirds' fifth freshman – Kenzie Pence – subbed in to pinch hit in the top of the seventh inning.
- Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference pick Andrea Coursey launched her second career home run off of the left field line foul post to knot the game at one-all in the top of the second.
- Seniors Riley Hale, Shannon Felde and Allison Spence carried over their reached base streaks from 2018, all making it safely on for the Redbirds tonight. Spence is up to a 10-game reached base streak, while Hale and Felde are currently riding four- and five-game streaks, respectively.
ON DECK
Illinois State will continue the USF Opening Weekend Invitational tomorrow, with a pair of games against NC State (11:15 a.m. CT) and No. 5 Florida (3:45 p.m. CT).
For updates on Illinois State Softball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB) and Instagram (@redbirdsoftball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
