Box Score

Feb. 17, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Southern Illinois softball team lost in the bottom of the seventh inning, 4-3, to No. 21/22 Mississippi State Sunday afternoon to conclude the Bulldog Round-Robin.

The Salukis (8-2) led, 3-2, but the host Bulldogs scored two runs in the final frame to edge SIU.

Mississippi State (11-0) led-off the bottom of the seventh inning with back-to-back singles, and followed with a risky double-steal, to put runners on second and third, with no outs.

The Bulldogs' next batter hit a run-scoring ground-out to first base, which tied the game, 3-3, and two batters later center fielder Hayle Guess hit the two-out game-winning single.

Freshman starting pitcher Nikki Waters took the loss, her first of the season, in her second complete-game of the year, and sophomore outfielder, Katie Wilson went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the offense.

"Even though we took the loss, this was one of the best games we've played all season," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "Nikki (Waters) threw very well, and Mississippi State's one and two hitters are a couple of the faster players that we might see all year long, but we hung in there."

Waters, junior outfielder Katie Schmidt and sophomore second baseman Alicia Garza were all named to the all-tournament team.

Southern Illinois struck first in the top of the first inning off MSU starting pitcher Kelsey Nurnberg.

With two outs, and sophomore Alicia Garza on first, Wilson hit a towering fly ball to right field that was dropped to keep the inning alive.

Following the error, senior first baseman Lauren Haas smacked an RBI-single into left field to put SIU up, 1-0.

Mississippi State had a chance to answer in the bottom half of the first with runners on second and third with one out.

Waters, however, got MSU to lineout to senior shortstop Becky Wegmann, who doubled-off the runner at third to end the inning. The double play was the third on the season for SIU after posting two in its last game against Fordham.

The Salukis pushed another run across in the top of the second to increase their lead, 2-0.

Junior designated player Chelsea Petty roped a lead-off double into left field, and was pinch run for by senior Clare Ford.

Following a sacrifice bunt by Wegmann, junior third baseman, Katie Wagner, crushed a deep fly-ball to center field that would have been a home run, if Guess had not made the catch with her back against the wall.

Ford scored on the sacrifice fly to give Wagner her fourth RBI of the season.

After back-to-back scoreless innings in the third and fourth innings, Mississippi State tied the game with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Bulldogs' sophomore catcher Chelsea Bramlett led-off with a triple to right field, and scored on an RBI-single up the middle.

Following another single and a stolen base, MSU had runners on second and third with one out, and scored again on a soft ground-out to first base, tying the game, 2-2.

The Salukis fought back though in the top of the sixth inning to regain the lead, 3-2.

With two outs and Wilson on third base, Petty smoked a hard groundball, which was misplayed by the Bulldogs' shortstop, allowing Wilson to score.

The error was the third on the day for Mississippi State, who entered the contest with only seven in 10 games.

Southern Illinois took its 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, setting up the Bulldogs' comeback.

The Salukis went 3-2 in the Bulldog Round-Robin with both of their losses coming at the hands of host Mississippi State.

SIU will travel to Middle Tennessee State for the Middle Tennessee Classic next Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24, and open the tournament against Belmont at 11 a.m.