Softball hosts Illinois State 4/2

[SycEm]

Softball welcomes the Redbirds to Price Field for a DH beginning at 2pm on Wednesday. No admission charge for home games. Free LiveStats and video for a fee at ISU website.

Busy week in MVC play this week - here are current conference standings:
1. Creighton 5-0
2. Evansville 4-2
3. Southern Illinois 5-3
3. Drake 5-3
5. Wichita State 6-4
6. Missouri State 4-5
7. Bradley 3-4
8. Indiana State 2-4
9. Illinois State 1-4
10. UNI 0-6

Standings could have quite a shake-up by the end of games on Sunday:
Wednesday Games:
Illinois State at Inidana State (DH)
Wichita State at Missouri State (DH)
Northern Iowa at Bradley (DH)

Weekend 3-Game Series:
Indiana State at Southern Illinois
Creighton at Wichita State
Evansville at Illinois State
Bradley at Missouri State
Drake at Northern Iowa

 

[SycEm]

7 errors (that is not a typo) in Game 1 lead to a 12-6 defeat. Illinois State does not have a single extra base hit and scores 9 unearned runs in the win. Sadly, I was there and we probably should have won if we could field the ball. Game 2 much more traditional, as the Redbirds win 2-1. We leave a lot of runners in scoring position and outhit Illinois State 8-7. Redbirds made two really excellent defensive plays in the bottom of the 7th to keep us from scoring. Right fielder makes a diving catch on a sinking liner to get the lead out. Then with 2 outs and a runner on first, their 2nd baseman makes a diving stop on a hard hit ball up the middle and is able to scoop it to the SS for the force at 2nd to end the game. Pitchers both actually threw well enough to win the games. Illinois State used 4 different pitchers on the day. Sycamores need to play better in Carbondale this weekend to stay in the race for the conference tourney.
Also - Sr. Darcy Wood was in the dugout but not in uniform for the DH - looks like her injury might be more serious than "day-to-day" as the newspaper keeps reporting.