May 19, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Despite only mustering two hits on the day, the Illinois State Redbirds topped the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen 1-0 in nine innings in game four of the NCAA Softball Regional.
Leading off the bottom of the ninth with a walk to shortstop Lindsey Greene, designated player Jhavon Hamilton smacked a double to left field, putting Greene on third. With leftfielder Lauren Keller up, Minutewomen pitcher Sara Ploude threw a wild pitch resulting in Greene scoring the game's only run.
With the Redbirds being no-hit until Laura Canopy's single in the bottom of the eighth, the Redbirds relied upon a strong effort from pitcher Jordan Birch, who held the Minutewomen to eight hits over nine innings.
With a no-hitter through seven and one-third, Ploude was not without control issues on the day. She issued eight walks and hit two batters, but kept the Redbirds bats quiet.
The Minutewomen threatened in the top of the seventh when left fielder Cyndil Matthew reached base on a throwing error by Redbird pitcher Jordan Birch. With a swipe of second, Matthew stole her 36th base of the year, setting a new UMass single-season record for stolen bases in a season. Despite being in scoring position, the inning ended with a flyout from second baseman Kyllie Magill.
That was the Minutewomen's last real threat of the day, despite collecting eight hits through the first six innings.
Illinois State advances to play DePaul in the region's third game of the day. The winner advances to play Missouri tomorrow, while the loser is eliminated.