TAMPA, Fla. – The Illinois State softball team (0-4) squared off against the nationally-ranked Arizona Wildcats (3-1) for the first time since 1995 Saturday night, dropping a 9-1 decision in five innings.
CATCHING UP WITH COACH FISCHER
Overall thoughts on team's performance to start the season…
"The last three days, we have definitely seen some improvements in offensive approaches, defensive fundamentals and pitch execution. I thought we really put all of those three things together much better tonight. Obviously we didn't get the result we wanted, but we are learning a lot. As long as we can keep things in perspective, this should help us moving forward."
On what the team will gain from facing top-25 teams right away…
"Our team is facing multiple All-Americans from last season and we have a very inexperienced group, even with our returners that we have from the last couple of seasons. Allison (Spence), Riley (Hale) and Shannon (Felde) are definitely our most experienced and have played a lot for our program the last four seasons. We are making adjustments and improvements now, and we just need to remember that we are playing some top-five and top-10 teams. What we are experiencing this weekend, and what we learn from playing these teams, should help us moving forward."
BIRD BITS
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Sophomore pitcher Morgan Day earned her third career start in the circle against a nationally-ranked opponent. A year ago today, the Tuscola, Illinois, native earned the starting call and her first career start against then-No. 2 Florida (2/9/18), before helping the Redbirds take then-No. 10 LSU to extra innings.
- Illinois State turned its first double play of the season, as Ellie Weltha (third base), Allison Spence (first base) and Emme Olson (shortstop) helped the Redbirds close the second inning.
- Allison Spence hit a two-out home run over the right field wall in the top of the fourth inning to put the Redbirds on the board. The last Redbird to hit a home run against a nationally-ranked opponent was Riley Strandgard (2015-18) at No. 25 Oklahoma State (3/13/18). Alyssa Wiebel was the last ISU softball player to hit a home run against a top-10 opponent, as she went yard as a freshman against No. 6 Michigan on Feb. 10, 2017. Spence's home run marked the 12th of her career – the most of any senior on the squad.
ON DECK
Illinois State will wrap up the USF Opening Weekend Invitational on Sunday morning against No. 19/14 Michigan at 8 a.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.
