Redbird softball sweeps Drake Saturday

[April 16, 2012]  NORMAL -- Elizabeth Kay came out of a hitting slump and went 3 of 3 from the plate in Saturday's second game, as the Illinois State (24-18, 9-5 MVC) softball team swept Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake (17-21, 8-6 MVC) at Marian Kneer Stadium. In the first game, the Redbirds came back to win 3-2, and they had a convincing 7-0 win in the second game.

Kay was 4 of 6 in the doubleheader, including two doubles. Kay also scored three runs in the second game. Nichelle Harrison was 2 of 4 from the batter's box and drove in four RBIs. Lauren Kellar and Lizzie Andrews each scored two runs for the Redbirds.

In the circle, Jordan Birch got the win in the first game, striking out 11 Bulldog batters without issuing a walk. Birch's record improves to 14-11. In the second game, Megan Warner let her defense work behind her in the win, as the senior hurler struck out one and didn't issue a walk. It was Warner's third shutout of the season, making her 9-6.

Game 1 recap: Illinois State 3, Drake 2

Torey Craddock hit a two-run solo shot over the left-field wall in the first to give Drake a quick lead, as the Redbirds struggled to get base runners. Kellar walked in her second straight at-bat in the bottom of the fourth and moved to second on a grounder to the right side by Kay. With two outs, Laura Canopy hit a double to deep left field and drove in Kellar to tie the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, ISU drove in two runs, using two Drake errors to its advantage. Harrison singled to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kolby Hoffman, but a Bulldog throwing error that stopped in the Redbird dugout drove Harrison in to give Illinois State the go-ahead run. Lindsey Greene reached first on another Drake error and moved to second on a wild pitch. Greene crossed home plate off a single by Jhavon Hamilton to the left side of the field.

Another solo homer by Drake's Hayley Nybo cut Illinois State's lead to one, 3-2. Despite the homer, which nailed the foul pole, the Bulldogs weren't able to battle back, falling to the Redbirds in the first game of the day.

Game 2 recap: Illinois State 7, Drake 0

Illinois State started hot offensively in the second game, scoring four runs in ISU's half of the first inning. Kellar walked and quickly stole second, as Andrews walked to put runners on first and second. Kay doubled to the gap in left-center field, driving in Kellar and putting runners in scoring position. Canopy walked to load the bases, as Harrison hit a two-out double that cleared the bases, increasing the Redbirds' lead to four.

In the bottom of the third, Kay hit her second straight double to push across Andrews, who singled through the left side of the field. After her strong performances at the plate, Kay used heads-up base running to score ISU's second run of the inning, pushing its lead to 6-0. Kay continued her hitting streak in the second game, leading off the fifth with a single, and moved over to third thanks to a double to right-center field by Canopy. A high sacrifice fly to right field by Harrison drove in Kay to lengthen Illinois State's lead to seven through five innings. Drake couldn't answer, as Illinois State won the second game 7-0.

[Text from news release received from Lauren Hutchcraft, assistant athletics communications director, Illinois State University]