Box Score

Feb. 15, 2008

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Southern Illinois softball team scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Fordham, 12-8, Friday morning in the first game of the Bulldog Round-Robin hosted by Mississippi State. Sophomore second baseman, Alicia Garza, hit a grand slam and recorded a career-high six runs batted in to help the Salukis improve to 6-0 on the season.

The Salukis had the lead, 6-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Rams put four runs on the scoreboard to send the game into extra-innings.

After a scoreless eighth inning, SIU exploded with a six-run top-of-the-ninth to take a 12-6 lead.

With runners on second and third, senior shortstop Becky Wegmann delivered an RBI-double to give Southern Illinois a 7-6 lead. Senior Tiffanie Dismore was then hit by a pitch, and freshman Chelsea Held walked to load the bases for Garza.

Garza, who hit a grand slam home run in the top of the fifth inning, delivered at the plate again, smacking a two-RBI single to increase the SIU lead, 9-6.

Southern Illinois went on to score three more runs on an RBI-single by sophomore Katie Wilson, and a two-RBI double by junior Chelsea Petty to take a 12-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Fordham tried to come back, posting two runs in the bottom of the inning, but freshman pitcher Nikki Waters closed out the game to earn her third win of the season.

Waters allowed two earned runs with one strikeout in five and 2/3 innings in the win. Junior relief pitcher, Katie McNarmara also threw three and 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.

Garza went 3-for-5 at the plate and scored three runs, and Petty tied a career-high with three RBI.

Southern Illinois will take on host, No. 21/22 Mississippi State for its next game of the Bulldog Round-Robin at 4 p.m. on Friday.