May 4, 2008

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - A combined 11 RBI from the duo of freshman designated player Abby Olson and junior catcher Casey Gorrell, which included three home runs by Olson and a grand slam by Gorrell, powered the Illinois State softball team to a 15-2, five-inning victory over host Northern Iowa in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Three Redbird batters combined to hit five home runs in the game, which marked the first time that ISU has produced five home runs in a single game since Feb. 18, 2007, versus North Carolina.

The game concluded Illinois State's regular season, as the Redbirds finished with a 28-19 overall record and went 17-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference. ISU finished second in The Valley for the second-straight season and the seventh time in program history. Creighton won the MVC regular-season title Saturday after it swept a doubleheader from Missouri State.

Northern Iowa concluded its season in ninth place in The Valley with a 20-28 overall record and a 5-16 conference mark.

Olson recorded seven RBI in the game, which set an Illinois State single-game RBI record. The Hartsburg, Ill., native had previously tied the Redbird single-game RBI record with six against UNC-Charlotte Feb. 29. Olson finished the day with a career-high four hits in a four at-bats, and her three home runs were the most by a Redbird batter since Kate Stake hit three home runs versus Loyola-Chicago March 17, 2005.

Junior right-hander Amber Smith (14-8) was solid in the circle for ISU, as she earned her 14th win of the season. Smith scattered just four Panther hits and gave up two runs (none earned) in five full innings pitched.

UNI starting pitcher Ashley Lepley (9-10) earned the loss for the Panthers after she surrendered eight runs to ISU - all earned - in just three innings pitched.

"We had a great day at the plate," said Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer. "I was really proud of how well our team battled against a variety of pitchers from Northern Iowa. Both Abby and Casey had great games offensively. Abby went to all three sides of the field with her home runs (one each to left field, center field and right field), which was great to see out of her.

"Amber got stronger in the circle as the game went on. She struggled in the first inning, but then battled back and adjusted to UNI's batters."

With the Redbirds already holding a 9-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning, Gorrell continued ISU's huge offensive day with her first-career grand slam that put the Redbirds up, 13-2. One inning later, Olson delivered the Redbirds' 15th run of the game, their most since they defeated Boston, 15-2, March 5, 2006, with a two-run shot over the right-field fence.

The Redbird power surge that has been riding high for the last three weeks got started early Sunday, as Olson hit her first home run of the game - a three-run shot - in the top of the first inning. Olson's three-run home run came three pitches after she nearly lined a homer over the left-field fence. That ball landed about four feet foul for a long strike.

Just as had been done in the two previous games in the series, Northern Iowa battled back from a deficit in its half of the first inning. The Panthers scored two runs in the frame, largely aided by a fielding error that was credited to Redbird third baseman Kara Nelson. After the first two UNI batters got on base via a leadoff single and a walk, a groundball to Nelson at third was booted by the sophomore All-American, which loaded the bases with no outs. UNI plated both its runs in the inning on consecutive fielder's choices to Prager at second base.

Nelson redeemed herself in the top of the second inning, as she hit a two-run home run that just sneaked over the center-field fence with Prager on base to give the Redbirds a 6-2 lead. The home run was Nelson's fourth of the season and her second in her last three games. Earlier in the inning, an RBI single by Prager scored junior shortstop Kaprice Williams, who led off the inning with a single into left field.

Olson once again powered up for ISU in the top of the third, as she roped a solo home run over the left-field fence to give the Redbirds a five-run advantage (7-2). Junior left fielder Katie Mathis added to the Redbird lead later in the third inning when she blooped an RBI single into shallow right field that drove in Gorrell from second base.

The Redbirds will begin postseason play Friday as the No. 2 seed in the State Farm MVC Tournament in Carbondale, Ill. Illinois State will play at 2:30 p.m. at Southern Illinois' Charlotte West Stadium against the winner of Southern Illinois versus the winner of the No. 6/ No. 7 seed game.