BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Veteran head coach Melinda Fischer earned her 1,100th career victory on Friday afternoon in an 11-4 decision over Austin Peay at the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling.
With this victory, Fischer becomes just the 19th head coach in NCAA Division I softball to reach the career milestone, while ranking as the 11th winningest among active head coaches.
QUOTING COACH FISCHER
On today's wins…
"Going back to our trip to FAU, we've been able to put three, four, five games together that we've played really well in. This time of year, that's very exciting to see. As a coach, it's been fun to watch this team grow and expand in all areas of the game. A lot of people have been contributing in a lot of different ways and its been a fun group."
On Morgan's dominate pitching…
"Seeing Morgan (Day) do what she did today at this point in her career and this season, was awesome. I look back at her coming into the program as a freshman and she has made huge improvements with her game and her confidence as grown, which has been instrumental in her success."
On offensive production…
"We saw production from people all through the lineup today in both games. We're starting to piece things together as a unit and we are getting a lot of contributions from everyone. It was nice seeing some people come back into the lineup and pick up where they left off."
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
- Mack Leonard: 3-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 3B
- Alyssa Wiebel: 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR
- Spenser Strandgard: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, HR
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- A ground out to Taylor Vanderpool at second base helped the Redbirds escape an early bases-loaded jam in the opening frame.
- Spenser Strandgard lifted a home run over the center field wall to lead off the second inning, highlighting a four-run inning for Illinois State. Austin Peay responded in the home half of the inning with a three-run shot to right center field to come within one of the Redbirds.
- The Redbirds regained a three-run advantage in the third, behind a trio of hits from Alyssa Wiebel, Strandgard and Brittni LaFountaine, before the Governors came back within two on an RBI single.
- Emme Olson launched a two-run homer to right field in the fifth, while a two-RBI double to left field by Mack Leonard in the sixth, helped ISU surge ahead, 10-4.
- Wiebel knocked ISU's third home run of the game over the left field wall, while Morgan Day struck out the side in the seventh, to cap the Redbirds' 11-4 victory.
ON DECK
The Redbirds will return to the field tomorrow to take on tournament host Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m.
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