Redbirds run-rule Sycamores 9-1 in 6 innings

[April 25, 2012]  NORMAL -- Two big innings for the Illinois State softball team led the Redbirds (29-20, 14-7 MVC) to a Missouri Valley Conference midweek victory over the Indiana State Sycamores (18-27, 5-15 MVC) Tuesday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Illinois State starter Jordan Birch (18-12) was stellar once again against the Sycamores, as she allowed just one run on two hits while striking out seven in the complete-game victory. Birch, the reigning MVC Pitcher of the Week, allowed just one hit to the Sycamores last Wednesday in a 3-0 shutout. Indiana State starter Lindsey Beisser (11-17) was saddled with the loss, after allowing six runs on four hits while walking three Redbird batters.

After a pair of scoreless innings to start the game for both teams, the Redbirds broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning with six runs on four hits as they batted around. Jhavon Hamilton got the action started with a one-out triple and came around to score on the next at-bat when Lauren Kellar singled to left field. Kellar later scored on a wild pitch for the second run of the inning, and Lizzie Andrews scored on a bases-loaded single by Caiti Kopp.

That forced Beisser out of the game, and Kristen Felker came in and proceeded to get the second out of the inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kolby Hoffman broke the game open with a bases-clearing double over the head of Indiana State center fielder Ashli Scott to make the score 6-0 in favor of the Redbirds.

Indiana State got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth inning, when leadoff hitter Megan Stone led off the inning with a solo home run just over the left-field wall to cut the lead to 6-1. The hit was the first of the day off Birch, who had cruised through the first three innings. The Redbirds answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, when Kellar scored from third on a RBI single into right field by Laura Canopy to make the score 7-1.

Illinois State put away the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Redbirds scored two runs to force the six-inning win. The game ended on a two-run double by Andrews that scored Kellar and Hamilton for the victory. Kellar finished the game 3 for 3 with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk to lead the way for the Redbirds, and Hamilton scored a pair of runs in the victory.

Illinois State will continue its homestand with a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series with Creighton, beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at noon. The series will wrap with a noon contest Sunday on Senior Day at Marian Kneer Stadium.

[Text from news release received from Michael Williams, Illinois State University]