Box Score

Feb. 16, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Southern Illinois softball team took down Wright State, 7-5, Saturday morning in the second day of the Bulldog Round-Robin at Mississippi State University. The Salukis connected on 11 hits, their fourth game with 10 or more this season.

Junior outfielder, Katie Schmidt, tied a career-high with three hits, including a two-run home run, and also recorded two stolen bases. Junior catcher Jayme Wamsley also had a strong game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double to help lead the Saluki offense.

Southern Illinois (7-1) got off to a quick start against Wright State, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning off four Raider errors.

Sophomore outfielders Katie Wilson and Alicia Garza scored on a throwing error by the Raiders' left fielder to put SIU up, 2-0. The next batter,Wamsley, hit a bloop-single into shallow center field, and senior Lauren Haas scored on a throwing error by the center fielder to make it, 3-0.

Wright State (0-3) answered however in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game.

A lead-off triple by Jamie Perkins, followed by an RBI-single by center fielder Mollie Berry brought Wright State back within two runs, 3-1.

The Raiders scored two more runs on an error, and an RBI-single by the pitcher, Ashleigh Jackson, to make it, 3-3, after one inning.

After a scoreless second and third inning, Southern Illinois regained the lead on one swing of the bat from Schmidt.

With senior Clare Ford on second base, Schmidt crushed a two-run home run, her second of the season, into right field to put SIU up, 5-3, in the top of the fourth.

The Salukis added another run in the inning on an RBI-double by Garza, which scored senior Krystal Stein all the way from first base, to give SIU another three-run lead, 6-3.

Junior pitcher Katie McNamara entered the game for starter, Nikki Waters, in the bottom of the fourth inning and immediately shut down the Raiders with two strikeouts and a popout to end the inning.

Wright State got to McNamara though in next inning, posting two runs on a two-run home run by the designated player, Allison Cox, to make the score, 6-5.

It was McNamara's first home run allowed this season and first of her career.

Southern Illinois added to its one-run lead in the top of the sixth.

Schmidt led-off the inning with her third hit of the morning, and after stealing second base, junior third baseman, Katie Wagner lined an RBI-single into center field to make up the final score, 7-5.

McNamara only surrendered one hit in the final two innings to help secure the win for the Salukis. McNamara improved to 4-0 on the season after throwing four innings of relief.

SIU head coach, Kerri Blaylock, was pleased with the way the Salukis hit and stepped up under pressure.

"It was a back and forth kind of game, but our bats really helped us out, like they have since the first game," Blaylock said. "I thought Mac (Katie McNamara) did a great job keeping people off balance, and this was a good win for the team."