Box Score

Feb. 23, 2008

By Ryan Shaw
www.siusalukis.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois University softball team bounced back from its morning loss to defeat the Skyhawks of the University of Tennessee-Martin by a count of 14-1 in five innings of play.

"I thought we really bounced back well," said head coach Kerri Blaylock. "UT-Martin is a very good team, so the score was not indicative of what kind of team they are. I was really pleased with 15 hits in five innings, that was tremendous. Nikki [Waters] threw a great game. We really turned it around."

With the win, the Salukis improve to 9-3 on the season. UT-Martin drops to 3-6 with the loss.

The Salukis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Jayme Wamsley singled to start the inning. Chelsea Held came into the game as a pinch runner for Wamsley and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Petty.

Held then moved to third on a Becky Wegmann single. Katie Wagner grounded out to the third baseman and Held scored on an error by the first baseman.

The Salukis struck again in the top of the third, scoring four runs in the inning. Tiffanie Dismore led off with a single to center field. Alicia Garza reached and advaced to second on an error by UTM's pitcher. The error also moved Dismore to third. Katie Wilson then singled to left field, scoring Dismore and advancing Garza to third.

Wilson then moved to second on a stolen base. Lauren Haas doubled, scoring Garza and Wilson. Haas advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Wamsley. Haas then scored on a wild pitch.

SIU tacked on six more runs in the top of the fourth. Dismore struck out, but reached base on an error by the catcher. Garza then homered over the left field fence.

Wilson followed Garza's homer with a single to left field. Katie Schmidt entered to pinch run for Wilson and stole second base. Wamsley then singled to left, scoring Wilson and advancing to second on the throw. Petty singled and took second on the throw, moving Wamsley to third.

Becky Wegmann loaded the bases with a walk. Clare Ford came in to the game as a pinch hitter for Wagner and was walked, scoring Wamsley from third. Krystal Stein then singled in Wegmann and Petty with a shot into right center.

The Skyhawks got on to the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. UTM began the inning with a single by Savannah Roberts. Megan Van Arsdale then reached on a throwing error by Wagner. Megan Williams followed with a single, loading the bases for the Skyhawks.

Kara Harper's infield fly pushed Roberts across the plate for UTM's lone run of the game.

SIU put three more runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Dismore led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Garza followed with a single, scoring Dismore. After two quick outs, Wamsley came up and blasted a shot into the Blue Raider Field scoreboard, scoring Garza.

Nikki Waters pitched the complete game to pick up the win, improving her record to 4-1 on the season.

The Salukis will be back in action tomorrow as they take on Middle Tennessee State University at 11 a.m.

"We've talked about not letting our guard down and making sure we come out and play every game tough," said Blaylock. "I just felt like we weren't ready to play this morning and that's the first game in 12 games that we've done that. We're going to try to come out ready to go tomorrow."