Bradley wins NCAA tournament opener
By Justin Phelps ‘05
Julie Sherman ‘12 scores the Braves only run in their 1-0 win over DePaul. (Bradley University / Bob Hunt)
The players’ expectation is different.
First-year softball coach Amy Hayes says that’s the biggest difference in the Bradley softball team’s winning streak, which extended to 10-games with a 1-0 victory Friday afternoon over DePaul in a first-round regional game.
Senior pitcher Ashley Birdsong struck out her eighth batter to end the game, sparking a wild celebration on the field and in the stands among about 50 red-clad Bradley fans, including President Joanne K. Glasser.
“I think some people think that celebration is like the players don’t expect to win,” said Hayes, a Decatur, Ill. native who was a Bradley assistant coach in 1997. “But I think it’s the exact opposite. These kids expect to win now, and that’s what has turned our program around.”
In the last 10 games, Birdsong has put the softball team on her shoulders. She is 10-0 with five shutouts and has led the program to its first Missouri Valley Conference championship and first NCAA tournament victory.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to be here, but every time we put on our uniform, we expect to win,” Birdsong said. “Surprising? Yes, because we’ve had ups and downs, but not surprising from the past 10 games.”
Bradley (26-26) advances to play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the Illinois-Missouri game. The second game was postponed because of inclement weather with Illinois leading 1-0 in the top of the first. They will resume play at 11:00 a.m.
The Braves need two wins to claim the regional.
(Peoria Journal Star / Ron Johnson)
Birdsong limited DePaul’s impressive lineup, which averages 7.55 hits per game, to three hits. Bradley put an emphasis on containing senior Amber Patton, who has led the nation in batting average and entered the game hitting .509. Patton was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
But the defense behind Birdsong was equally important. In the second, shortstop Miriam Wegmann made a nice play to reach behind her body while moving away from second base to tag out a would-be base stealer. In the sixth inning, centerfielder Amanda Clack tracked a long fly ball by senior catcher Jackie Tarulli-Fish to the warning track, where she caught it.
“A lot of people didn’t expect us to be here, but we just kept fighting throughout the season,” Hayes said. “It’s been an up-and-down season. But in the end, it’s about getting these kids to believe. Friday’s game is proof that even when it gets tough in the late innings and they’re putting pressure on us, these kids are ready and not giving up.”
Bradley scored in the second on senior Anne Creighton’s two-out RBI single that scored Julie Sherman, who reached first on a softly hit ball over the pitcher. Sherman stole second to get in scoring position.
“We’ve known this could happen from Day 1,” said Creighton, who has been especially effective in the last 10 games. “We fought through it and kept going, and here we are at regionals. We’re all really confident, having fun, and playing together. The team chemistry right now is unbelievable.”