TEMPE, Ariz. – After trailing 5-2 going into the fifth inning, the Illinois State softball team's offense exploded, taking down Detroit Mercy, 11-5, on the final day of Arizona State's Littlewood Classic. Additionally, freshman Amanda Fox earned her first collegiate win in the circle, stepping in for 3.1 innings of relief work for the Redbirds.
QUOTING COACH FISCHER
"We had a great comeback today and it was really good to see our players respond after being down 3-0. Detroit Mercy came out swinging and got the long ball going for them, but I thought we finally made adjustments at the plate and it paid off in the fifth inning. We got some good relief performances from Hannah (Ross) a little bit and I thought Amanda (Fox) came in and did a great job in relief. We ended the tournament with a win, and we saw a lot of things that we are continuing to make improvements on, but overall, it was a great day."
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Morgan Day: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Hannah Ross: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
- Amanda Fox: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- Morgan Day delivered a trio of strikeouts in the opening frame, despite Detroit Mercy jumping on the board with a pair of solo home runs to left field.
- Another home run to left field in the bottom of the second brought Hannah Ross into the circle in relief with the Titans leading, 3-0. Detroit Mercy scratched two more runs across in the inning, before a ground out to Emme Olson at second base ended the frame.
- In the top of the third, Rebecca Moffett and Mack Leonard led off with back-to-back singles, before the duo pulled a double steal to send Moffett charging across home plate to put the Redbirds on the board. A single up the middle by Olson brought Leonard home from third to cut into ISU's deficit.
- A big fifth inning by ISU – highlighted by a pair of doubles from Leonard and home runs by Olson and Alyssa Wiebel – helped the Redbirds charge ahead, 10-5, after scoring eight runs on six hits.
- An infield single from Olson in the top of the seventh added another run on the board for the Redbirds, as Leonard crossed home plate after drawing a one-out walk and working her way around the bases.
ON DECK
Illinois State will return to Florida to participate in Florida Atlantic's "Strike-Out Cancer" Tournament. The Redbirds will face Long Island, Hofstra, North Florida and the tournament host Owls, Feb. 21-23, in Boca Raton. Â
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