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28, 2007 THE SYCAMORES GET CLIPPED BY THE #17 REDBIRDS OF ILLINOIS STATE TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After a rain shower delayed the start of the double header by almost an hour, the Sycamores took the field on Wednesday for games against the #17 team in the country, the Illinois State Redbirds. Going into the day the Sycamores had a record of (15-13, 1-5 MVC) while the Redbirds owned a record of (27-7, 5-1 MVC). The day started out rough for the Sycamores as they dropped the first game of the day by a score of 2-0 while managing only two hits off of the Redbirds pitcher Stacy Birk. The Redbirds got on the board in the bottom of the 1st, scoring four runs on four hits while capitalizing on one Sycamore defensive error. The inning was punctuated by a two-run double to center field by Casey Gorrell. The Redbirds got it going again in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring three runs on three hits. The biggest of those hits came off the bat of Michelle Henderson as she sent a sot over the center field fence for a two-run homerun. The scoring would draw to a close at 8-0 in the Redbirds favor as the game was called in the 5th inning. The Sycamores Meagan McCurdy was the pitcher of record as went 2.2 innings giving up seven runs (all unearned) on seven hits. The two Sycamore hits for the game came off the bats of Seniors Yvette Tovar and Jessica McGivney. Tovar and McGivney both went 1 for 2 at the plate for the game. Following a short delay the two teams took the field for the second game of the day. This one would remain close until the end but the Redbirds were able to fend off the Sycamore attack for a 2-0 victory. The Sycamores Junior Darcy Wood went 6.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five batters. The Redbirds countered with Shannon Nicholson who went 3.0 scoreless innings before giving way to Stacy Birk who came in to finish the game. The two Redbird pitchers combined for a three hit shutout. The Redbirds got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd courtesy of a one-run single off the bat of Jackie Williams that went sent through the right side of the infield. The other Redbird run would come in the bottom of the 5th as Jessie Buker sent an RBI single to the shortstop. The Sycamores threatened to even the game in the top of the 6th as they were able to load the bases with Junior power hitter Katie Iocoangeli coming up to the plate and only one out. Iocoangeli struck out looking and Sophomore Katie Armour hit a fielder’s choice to the shortstop to end the inning. Sophomores Meredith Simpson and Laruen Kebely accounted for all three of the Sycamore hits in game two. Simpson went 1 for 3 at the plate while Kebely went 2 for 3. The Sycamores record now stands at (15-15, 1-7 MVC) while the #17 Redbirds move to (29-7, 7-1 MVC). The Sycamores
return to action on Saturday, March 31 as they travel to Cedar Falls,
Iowa for a weekend series with the University of Northern Iowa Panthers.
The game times are 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31
and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 1 central time.
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