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18, 2007 SYCAMORES UPEND #18 ILLINOIS STATE 8-7 IN 11 INNINGS TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After allowing six runs to the Redbirds in the 2nd inning the Sycamores bounced back to score six runs of their own in the 5th inning to take a 7-6 lead at that point in the game. The Redbirds responded with an additional run in top of the 6th to even the score at 7-7. The score would remain locked at 7-7 until the bottom of the 11th inning when the Sycamores brought the winning run home to seal the victory over the #18 team in the country. The win moves the Sycamores record to (17-20, 3-11 MVC) and drops the Redbirds record to (37-10, 13-4 MVC). Leading off the Redbird 2nd was starting pitcher Stacy Birk who started the 6-run inning with a solo blast over the right field wall. The Redbirds would bring home five more runs in the inning, punctuated by another homerun, this time off the bat of Jessie Buker who sent a 3-run shot over the fence in right field. The score remained at 6-0 until the bottom of the 3rd. In the bottom of the 3rd the Sycamores got on the board as Junior Kelsey Anderson swung at the first pitch she saw and sent it over the fence in straightaway center field. It would be the Sycamores only run of the inning leaving the score at 6-1 in the Redbirds favor. Two innings later, in the bottom of the 5th, the Sycamores got it going with a 6-run inning of their own. The Sycamores would scatter five hits throughout the inning, taking advantage of Redbird defensive lapses. Katie Iocoangeli was the first to strike with a one out single and was later brought home by Anderson, after Senior Jessica McGivney got aboard with a walk, who got her second RBI of the day. Seniors Julie Damico and Natalie Kopp entered the game to pinch run for McGivney and Anderson and advanced to 2nd and 3rd after a wild throw by the Redbird defense. Senior Yvette Tovar was the next to single as she brought home Kopp for the Sycamores second run of the inning. The bases were loaded for Sophomore Lauren Kebely after Senior Jackie Chomicki was hit by a pitch. She kept the rally going with a RBI single, bringing home Damico, and she would later score off of a fielding error. Senior Stephanie Spychaj was next to the plate and she wasted no time in hitting a two run RBI single to right-center field. The score after 5 innings was 7-6 in favor of the Sycamores. The Redbirds would tie the game at 7-7 in the top of the 6th. Neither team would score again in regulation and the game would eventually be pushed to the 11th inning. In the bottom of the 11th Yvette Tovar would again come up huge as she hit a one-out double off the center field wall. Junior Lindsey Starwalt would come into the game to pinch-run for Tovar. The next batter up would be Jackie Chomicki as she laid down a surprise bunt single, moving Starwalt over the 3rd. The game would be decided one batter later as Lauren Kebely sent the game winning single through the gap in right center to bring home Starwalt from 3rd. The Sycamores Junior Darcy Wood (10-15) would earn the pitching victory as she went for a complete game, 11.0 innings, giving up seven runs on 12 hits while striking out five batters. Stacy Birk (18-5) of Illinois State received the loss as she went 9.2 innings giving up six runs on nine hits and striking out three batters. Lauren Kebely finished the game 2 for 6 with one run scored and two RBI, Stephanie Spychaj went 1 for 4 with two RBI and a career best 17 putouts at her first base position. The Sycamores
are back in action this weekend as the host Missouri State University
for a three game series. The double header on Saturday, April 21
begins at noon and the single game on Sunday, April 22 begins at
noon.
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